Your Next Idea Might Be Waiting Outside
Thought of the Week
Your next idea might be waiting outside.
I sit in “my corner” and plug away at my computer daily (seriously, my office is a blocked-off corner of our living room). Most of my work happens at home. It sounds liberating to many, but to me, working from home often feels like being in jail.
The world shifted in 2020. We all gained what they called a “new normal.” The way we interacted with each other changed. Our purchasing habits made us all dependent on delivery drivers. And work shifted in a way I’m still struggling to adapt to. Call it ADHD or whatever you want, but I need to keep moving; I need to be around people. When my mind starts to wander, you’ll see me staring out the window, wishing I could go out and play. Anyone else?
I’ve learned something recently: it’s ok to go outside during work hours.
My boss could discipline me for such reckless activity (good thing I am self-employed). But here is something important I’ve learned from these neighborhood walks. My best ideas come when I’m walking outside in God’s creation, talking to Him about what I’m working on.
Getting outside and looking beyond my screen isn’t insubordination; it’s a one-on-one meeting with my true Boss, my Creator, my Savior, the One who calls the shots in my life. It’s time to walk and talk with God about what’s going on in my heart and mind. I can share my new ideas and aspirations with Him. I can tell Him I’m frustrated and stuck in my work. I can confess my fears and anxieties about the work He’s called me to.
The craziest part of all this is that when I’m done ranting, God speaks. He gives me peace about my new ideas or shifts my perspective on them. He opens my mind to see my frustrations from a different angle. He comforts me with reminders of the promises His Word holds. I can’t be successful at my work without Him. I need to be with Him outside, in His office.
When was the last time you went outside on purpose? If you have the freedom to step away from your work or from scrolling on your phone for a few minutes, are you taking it? All that matters is that you get outside and into God's office.
There is something special about being outside when the world tells you to stay in. Don’t be surprised if your next idea might be waiting outside.
Know Him
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
— Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
Understand Yourself
What part of your day do you often feel mentally “stuck”?
Do His Work
When you feel “stuck” this week, step outside without your phone. Talk to God and share what’s going on in your heart and mind. Look and listen for His response wherever you are.