Finding Quiet: Letting Go of Hustle, Embracing Faith, and Rediscovering a Meaningful Life

Leaving the Noise Behind to Embrace a Life of Faith, Family, and True Contentment

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8

I am seeing my previous businesses and visions all slowly folding into this blog dream as time goes on, and now I see one of my most compelling business ventures making it's way into this one.

 I once had a business I named Beautiful Living Today. I was driven to inspire others to build a beautiful, meaningful, and slow living life wherever they may be planted. I had learned how to create my own little piece of tranquil heaven in one of the most dangerous and loudest cities in the country, and I wanted to help others do the same. It was composed of blogs, podcasts, and some beautiful videos. I felt it was such a deep calling from God and was so excited, I had spent countless hours on designs and plans, had felt the calling to have a good friend fold into the business with me, and then nothing happened. She never jumped on board like we had planned to, I lost the inspiration, and felt confused as it had felt so deeply a calling from God. The friendship eventually fizzled, life and priorities took over, and here we are years later and it is just a distant memory. But the calling forever remains nestled in my heart.

I have seen ways I have let it slip out through different social media posts and countless interactions with people, always encouraging others to find the slow meaningful life among the noise, but I never saw it for what it was, the vitally important Beautiful Living Today mission crying to have an outlet.

One of the blog posts I had posted there years ago was called 'Finding Quiet', I lost the blog, but I find myself this last couple weeks deeply yearning for this title in my own life. It has been a complete whirlwind and insane uphill climb to get my natural products business West Texas Soap Co. where it is today. At 9 months pregnant I was working full days until midnight filling orders, literally until she popped out, and then within 24 hours was posting again and never stopped. No breaks, no breaths. It is something I would strongly advise against for most people. I had a mission to build the business to a level that could help support our family and 3 years in, I have never had the space and time to find any quiet other than stolen moments during devotional time. I'd find myself playing with the kids while thinking about getting back to work. Homeschooling them, wishing for it to go by faster so I could get back to work. That is not who I am, and is against all advice I've ever given to anyone, but the mission to provide more money for the family took precedence, as it should when money is too tight for comfort even when living the most frugal humble life.

Now a new season has arrived, and I am so excited I could cry. Things are much better, things are in place, the foundation is laid and now I can focus on maintaining the business I've created, instead of striving for growth. I do not require a large business to be happy. We are content with modest circumstances as long as the needs are met. We actually enjoy them because it allows us to continue trusting in God, and allows Him to show us His constant miracles against all odds. I've asked myself, what really is financial freedom? Not in the culture's definition but in the Christian's definition? I have found myself striving for the culture's definition of financial freedom which is empty and meaningless. A desire for more than I have? Fleshly desires and wants that mean nothing. Lack of contentment with my current blessings, striving for more. Not truly settling in and appreciating all that I have, as if I'm telling God "It's not enough'.

In a world with constant social media and seeing everyone around the world all day long, we swim in an ocean of seeing what others have and wanting it, instead of loving what we have right around us. What needs work is my soul, not my bank account. Financial worry and stress is a lack of faith and trust that God wants to and will provide each need we have, if we put Him first in our lives, and put in our best effort in our lives (no laziness here), because He loves us. We've chosen family values over money and jobs for about 7 years now. If we show up 100% within the boundaries of the values He wants us to live, He shows up 100% to provide. We've been judged harshly for it by many, choosing family over money filled demanding jobs, but our kids are the happiest kids I've ever known because of it. We have time together as a family every day, they're following their passions and know who they are, they won't have a midlife crisis realizing they just did what everyone expected of them and never did anything they actually wanted to. Our marriage is strong and healthy. Our bodies are strong and healthy. Our faith is strong and healthy. I take all of that over a fat bank account any day, and ever since we started making these decisions to chose family over money, our bank account has been smaller but our joy, meaning, connection, happiness, and faith -much greater.

So back to my point of Finding Quiet. I haven't had this since we moved to Texas nearly 4 years ago. We've been in an INTENSE growing season the last 4 years, growing personally, spiritually, as a family, and as husband and wife. The list of torturous jobs found and lost, constant ups and downs, constant needing to cling to Jesus for dear life, is a long one. The death of a parent, 3 surgeries for 2 children, terrifying circumstances around unexpected job loss and no one hiring. Facing possible loss of a place to live while preparing for a baby to arrive. A church found, a church breaking our hearts deeply, misled into severe cult level legalism to the point of spiritual bondage, and the process of breaking free, relationships to heal with many difficult conversations, and God delivering us from every single situation and providing for us through every step of the way.

Our faith is beyond anything it was ever capable of before we moved. We cannot believe how we have transformed, we cannot believe who we used to be just 4 years ago. We are so grateful for this 4 years of intense trial because of how it has transformed us into truly loving and having a relationship with God, and how we actually put Him first now to the best of our ability every day. The miracles are too many to even list. The ways He has provided for us and guided us are absolutely unbelievable. He ALWAYS had a plan. We were never forgotten and His hand was never distant. We needed every moment of that season to be who we are now, and we are so grateful for it all, even though it was painful and terrifying many times. We don't need anything but Jesus.

So...

As I sit and write my intentions for 2025, the biggest item is Cultivating A Quiet Mind and Life - Everything will be different. Much less social media posting and noise, much more deep quiet writings from me, truer to who I am, a deep thinking introvert who loves quiet, slow, meaningful living. I love to write, it doesn't drain from my cup like other types of communication. The nutrition course I have talked about for quite some time will no longer be a thing, more noise that I don't want. Instead, as I feel inspired, I will share on this blog. I have already written multiple chapters of a book that I am excited to share in this space. I have so much in my brain that loves to get out through this medium. I also love the idea of sharing it all freely for all to read as they choose. This year will be the relaunch of my initial Beautiful Living Today mission, but under this new amazing community God has built through West Texas Soap Co. and now this blog.

I am so excited to now spend my days Finding Quiet for the first time in many years, and sharing with you along the way.

Until next time...

-Tej'a