Thriving Without Striving

The words thriving without striving came after a period of striving, and I found myself back with emotions of depression, saying to myself: This is not how I want to live.

When Striving Becomes Surviving

Striving can be a word meaning to endeavor, attempt, or make an effort. This is not the context I’m thinking of when it comes to this word. Context is everything. I’m thinking of this word in the context of labor, toil, or to struggle. I’m thinking of this word in the sense of sweating and toiling to the point of pain and exhaustion, not endeavoring or making an effort. I mean, honestly, when we are working toward anything, we are making an effort. I don’t mind making an effort. Anything worthwhile takes some effort.

Striving often comes from fear. It’s the fear of not doing enough, not being enough, or not having enough. I’ve struggled with not being enough for much of my life and had worked through that in the inner healing program, Freedom For Life, which I had gone through earlier this year.

I retired from my nursing position at the end of 2023, and for the most part, things have run smoothly since then. I took 2024 to work on my grief and burnout. Earlier in 2025, I worked through Freedom for Life, and for the first time in my life since age 12, I felt like I was enough. I decided I was ready to start working on a home business again. I began this with the idea of thriving.

I started by sharing my love for journaling with a company that has planners and journals. I love that company and I’ve found so much joy in sharing that passion. I learned about a new online concept of vendor events, where 18-20 various vendors create a group where they share what they sell, and everyone invites their friends to join in. What a fun concept! This is where my striving began.

I thought to myself, How hard can that be? I did well at my first event and found another vendor business to get involved in. Before I knew it, I had agreed to 17 vendor events between the two online vendor event companies between July and the end of 2025.

By September, I knew I was in over my head. I was neglecting what I really wanted to do initially in business (blogging and affiliate marketing), and the overwhelm began to emerge. I learned some valuable lessons and adopted concepts such as understanding the personalities of others, which enabled me to communicate more effectively with those around me, as well as those I was selling to.

However, all the classes and programs I had started, in addition to all the vendor events I was signed up for, became all-consuming, even at the neglect of my own spiritual life. I began to let go of some things. I had already participated in seven of the vendor events. I let go of 9 of them. I had one more, and I just finished that one today. Out of all that work, only one of those events, and that was the first one, created income. I have made great friendships and connections through those events. I have no regrets at all about participating in the ones I did. It wasn’t about the money…it was about the fact that I had become to busy to nurture the very thing I was passionate about.

Yesterday morning, as I was waking up, an overwhelming sense of depression clouded my emotions. As I was scrolling through Facebook, I found not one but two friends had posted something about striving: the pressure-ridden type of striving. Knowing this wasn’t a coincidence, I began to pray and ask God how I could get back on track.

Learning to Rest & Trust

I ended up texting with a friend. I was feeling overwhelmed with all the negative stuff I was seeing on Facebook. She showed me how not to see all that and instead see posts from friends. That was a game-changer. Then I began to share how I was tired of striving in all the things. After sharing our hearts, she mentioned the word THRIVING. I realized it rhymed with striving, and my thoughts went to how great it would be to experience Thriving Without Striving.

Reflecting on a few years ago, when I knew God was directing me to simplify. Back then, I listened to that inner voice. Yesterday, through an online search, I found inspiration in what I discovered: a shift in motivation. Instead of working from a place of “trying harder,” one works from a place of divine strength and assurance. This rest allows a person to be more productive and less anxious, as their identity and security are found in Christ, not in their performance. (This was not from an individual, but seemed more AI-generated, related to what I was searching)

That created the shift in mindset I needed. So much scripture to listen to. Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Also, Isaiah 30:15, “In questness and trust is your strength.”.

Something else had caught my attention within the past week. I am going to go through Freedom For Life again. They are starting up a new session. Since May of this year, there have been events I’ve experienced in my personal life which has been both traumatizing and draining. I found myself having new struggles; I needed to revisit inner healing. I saw a post from one of my Facebook friends, Jessica Echols, who is also a facilitator with the Freedom for Life program, “You’re not healing to be able to handle trauma, you’re used to that. You’re healing to be able to handle joy and accept happiness back into your life.” That’s what I’ve been missing in all my striving…the joy and happiness Christ wants me to experience.

Redefining Success

I used to think success meant doing more. Now I know success is about doing what matters most…with peace, purpose, and grace.

Thriving means slowing down long enough to feel God’s presence in your day. It means choosing joy over hurry, connection over perfection, and purpose over pressure.

When we stop striving, we make space for God to do what only He can do.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)
Fruit doesn’t grow by striving; it grows by abiding.

Living Whole: Thriving in Faith, Work, and Wellness

As I begin to live this out again, I realize how much striving had affected my whole self: my body, mind, and spirit. Thriving requires nurturing all three. I need to learn to rest, breathe deeply, move my body with care, and give myself grace when I need it.

Thriving also means trusting that God uses stillness at times to bring growth.

Here are a few reflection questions to help you think about your own life:

• Where are you still striving instead of trusting?
• What might thriving look like for you in this season?
• What is one small way you can choose rest today?

The Bible reminds us, “I pray that you may prosper and be in good health, even as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)
That’s what thriving really looks like! It’s a soul at peace, a body cared for, and a heart that trusts.

A Gentle Invitation

Friend, if you’re tired of striving, you’re not alone. God didn’t design you to live in constant motion or pressure. He created you to live whole in body, mind, and spirit while resting in His care.

Take one small step today toward peace. Pray. Journal. Sit quietly and breathe. Trust that even in the pause, He is working.

Thriving isn’t about doing more. For me, it’s about being more connected to the One who gave me life. I don’t have to strive in life or business…I can lean on HIM to THRIVE!

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Living Whole ~ Joycelynn