|  Blog Post   |  Stop going to an empty well looking for water.

Stop going to an empty well looking for water.

When I made the choice to believe you are doing your best, I was the one freed. Freed from being angry and resentful and blaming others for not meeting my expectations, most especially the expectations I have never stated out loud and clearly.

When I lived to know that we are all doing our best because of the darkest and most painful years of my life, my life was flooded with even more freedom that oozed with tons of grace that softened my heart in a way to love people well.

People aren’t lazy.
They don’t enjoy failing.
They aren’t withholding from us on purpose.

People are hurting.
Maybe even suffering.
People have big stories.

Sometimes, they just don’t have what we need.
Sometimes, their best just isn’t good enough for us.

Stop going to an empty well looking for water.

Have courageous conversations, set boundaries, go find what you need from somewhere else, and at times give yourself permission to love/lead people from afar.

For me, this brutal life-changing lesson has meant a life free, filled with grace, and full of connection and love.

Author:

A Licensed Professional Counselor, Justine Froelker has over 25 years of experience in mental health, personal growth, and professional development. For eleven years, she was certified in Dr. Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability, courage, and empathy. Justine now shares her own curriculum, Courage is Built Here™. This transformative program empowers individuals to live and lead with self-awareness, authenticity, and resilience, building a foundation for courage-centered leadership. In addition to writing her blog since 2013, Justine is an accomplished author of twelve books—including five Amazon bestsellers—Justine has written across genres, from children’s books to in-depth explorations of infertility, faith, grief, and leadership. She has delivered two TEDx Talks, The Permission of the And and The Donut Effect, which highlight her unique perspective on navigating life’s complexities with grace. Justine is a sought-after speaker who travels nationally and presents virtually to global audiences, delivering keynotes, workshops, retreats, and trainings on topics such as leadership, resilience, mental health, coping with burnout, courageous and curious conversations, and fostering cultures of inclusion and belonging. Justine lives in St. Louis with her husband Chad and their two dogs, Gertie and Winston. You’ll often find her volunteering at Wild Bird Rehabilitation—supporting the medical team and feeding hundreds of tiny, hungry babies during baby bird season. And during butterfly season, her home comes alive with the flutter of wings as she raises hundreds of monarch and swallowtail butterflies.

Comments:

  • July 14, 2022

    Yes! “Go find what you need from somewhere else.” When I stopped going to empty wells, I was free to discover new wells full of water.

    I learned grace from everything I went through too. Grace started for myself. Then I was able to extend it to others.

    Beautiful post. <3

    reply

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