Challenging Outdated Parenting: A Maverick Approach to Raising the Next Generation

Challenging Outdated Parenting: A Maverick Approach to Raising the Next Generation

Becoming Maverick is a journey toward intentional living, personal growth, and greatness. It is about breaking free from inherited patterns, questioning what we’ve accepted as “normal,” and choosing a more conscious path forward.

As we walk this journey, one truth becomes unavoidable: how we parent matters. Parenting is not a side quest—it shapes future generations, cultures, and the world our children will one day lead. To become Maverick is to examine not only our careers, beliefs, and habits, but also the way we raise our children.

This reflection challenges outdated parenting models and invites a more progressive, intentional approach—one that allows us to live and love beyond limits.

Love Isn’t the Problem — Unexamined Tradition Is

Parents love their children. At least, we assume they do—and in most cases, they genuinely try their best.

So how do we end up harming the very people we love most?

Paradoxically, we often harm our children because we love them. In our desire to protect, provide, and preserve, we sometimes pass on habits, beliefs, and practices that no longer serve them. Love without reflection can become limitation.

Consider food—something essential, pleasurable, and deeply cultural. It can nourish, but it can also slowly poison when choices are driven by tradition rather than understanding. The same principle applies to parenting.

This idea echoes the haunting truth behind the song “Killing Me Softly.” Made famous globally by the Fugees in 1996, the phrase captures something uncomfortable: harm doesn’t always come loudly or violently. Sometimes, it comes gently—wrapped in love, familiarity, and good intentions.


Parenting with Outdated Information

Most parents do not intentionally damage their children. They parent using the information available to them—information passed down through generations, reinforced by society, culture, and personal experience.

Here’s the challenge: much of that information is outdated.

In medicine, it can take over a decade for new discoveries to reach textbooks and training institutions. Professionals who don’t actively update themselves often practice with yesterday’s knowledge. Parenting is no different.

Without intentional learning and self-renewal, we default to what we were taught:

  • “This worked for me.”

  • “This is how I was raised.”

  • “This is how it’s always been done.”

But what worked in one era may quietly fail in another.


Universal Principles vs. Evolving Application

Some principles are timeless. Gravity still works. Human development still follows patterns. Children still need love, boundaries, safety, and affirmation.

What does change is how we apply those principles.

There was a time when humanity believed flight was impossible. The sky was the limit—literally. Today, we fly across continents and leave Earth’s atmosphere entirely. The laws of physics didn’t change; our understanding did.

Parenting is the same. Love remains essential. Guidance remains necessary. Discipline still matters. But the methods, awareness, and psychological insight must evolve.


A Maverick Call to Progressive Parenting

To parent as a Maverick is not to reject the past entirely—but to question it wisely. It is to honour what still works while courageously upgrading what no longer serves.

Progressive parenting requires:

  • Intentional learning

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Self-reflection

  • Willingness to unlearn

  • Openness to new research and perspectives

It asks us to parent not only for today, but for our children’s children—and generations beyond.


Living and Loving Beyond Limits

Let us continue to parent to the best of our ability—but let us also be brave enough to grow.

Be kind to the third, fourth, fifth generation, and beyond. Challenge inherited limitations. Renew your mindset. Upgrade your understanding.

This is the Maverick way.

Live consciously. Love intentionally. Parent beyond limits.

Breaking the Cycle: Disrupting Harmful Influencers on the Journey of Becoming Maverick

Behavior (noun):
The way a person acts or responds to internal beliefs and external influences, often shaped by knowledge, environment, and learned patterns.

Our behaviors don’t form in isolation. They are learned, absorbed, and often inherited—sometimes unintentionally. On the journey of Becoming Maverick, growth begins when we interrupt negative behaviors and disrupt harmful influences that shape how we live, think, and raise the next generation.



Becoming Maverick: Interrupting Negative Behaviors and Disrupting Harmful Influences

Funny how life often seems kinder to children. At birth, we are fully functional—requiring only guidance, care, and healthy input to grow. Yet the truth is uncomfortable: those tasked with guiding us are often carrying wounds of their own. Broken people, doing their best, sometimes pass on broken patterns.

And this is rarely done with malice.

The words that matter most here are “unknowingly” and “unintentionally.”
No one sets out to harm their children. We love our children. We want to protect our bloodline. And yet, in trying to preserve life, we sometimes damage it—often in the very areas where we ourselves are wounded.


Ignorance Is Not Innocent

Scripture reminds us that we perish for lack of knowledge. Much of the harm we cause—both to ourselves and others—comes not from intent, but from ignorance.

Ignorance can be fatal:

  • Mentally

  • Emotionally

  • Spiritually

If you knew a car was about to run a red light, you wouldn’t step into the intersection. But distraction—or lack of information—can cost a life. The same is true of what we consume daily. If we fully understood the long-term impact of excess sugar, toxic environments, destructive media, or careless words, many of our habits would change immediately.

What We Consume Shapes Who We Become

We often think of consumption as food alone, but that’s only part of the picture. We consume constantly through:

  • What we watch

  • What we listen to

  • What we read

  • What we believe

  • What we tolerate

Every cell in the body is designed to repair itself—but only if the systems supporting it are healthy. The same is true for the mind and spirit. We are shaped, strengthened, or slowly destroyed by what we allow in.

Words can poison. Environments can infect. Influences can erode identity.


Born Into Families—and Societies

We are not only born into families; we are born into systems, cultures, and societies. Some people are raised intentionally. Others are raised by accident. Some thrive. Others survive.

Becoming Maverick means choosing intention over accident.

It means taking responsibility not only for our own healing, but for what we model, teach, and pass on to the next generation.

The Maverick Choice

On the journey of Becoming Maverick, we commit to:

  • Interrupting our own negative behaviors

  • Challenging inherited patterns

  • Disrupting harmful influences in society

  • Replacing ignorance with awareness

  • Choosing growth over comfort

This is not rebellion for rebellion’s sake.
It is responsibility with courage.

Reflection & Journaling

  • What negative behaviors have I inherited without questioning?

  • What influences currently shape my thinking the most?

  • Where might ignorance—not intention—be causing harm in my life?

  • What would intentional living look like for me this season?

  • What patterns do I want to disrupt for the next generation?

Final Reflection

Knowledge is not just power—it is protection.

When we seek understanding, we make better choices. When we become aware, we break cycles. And when we live intentionally, we create ripple effects that extend far beyond ourselves.

Let us become Mavericks who are self-aware, teachable, and committed to positive change—for our families, our communities, and the generations to come.

Becoming Maverick—enjoy your journey.

Shalom!

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Transformed by Brokenness: How Pain Shapes Purpose and Resilience

Transformed by Brokenness: The Roadmap to Maverick Excellence

Brokenness refers to a state of humility, vulnerability, or hardship that often precedes personal transformation, spiritual growth, and renewed purpose.

On my journey of Becoming Maverick, one truth keeps resurfacing: God has a long history of using broken people. Not the polished. Not the perfect. But the honest, wounded, surrendered ones.

When you zoom out and look at the Bible as a whole, a striking pattern emerges. Those who are deeply aware of their limitations often become the most impactful. Meanwhile, those who appear strong, self-sufficient, or flawless are frequently led through seasons that expose their fragility.

Have you ever reached the end of yourself? That place where there seems to be no way forward. Where the weight of life feels unbearable and disappearing sounds easier than continuing.

I’ve been there too.


Brokenness and Resilience: Lessons from the Maverick Journey

Over the past decade, I’ve walked through seasons I rarely speak about, except with a trusted few. Near-death moments. Business betrayal. Deep personal loss. Emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion that stretched me far beyond what I thought I could endure.

And just when I believed things couldn’t get worse… they did.

Yet in those dark valleys, one powerful lesson emerged: seasons change.

What you are facing now will not last forever. It may feel permanent, but pain is often a passage, not a destination. As motivational speaker Les Brown reminds us, in moments of despair we must whisper to ourselves: “It is possible.”

That whisper becomes a lifeline.


Why God Uses Broken People

One of the most profound truths I’ve learned is this: God doesn’t avoid brokenness—He works through it.

Brokenness strips away self-reliance and exposes our need for something greater than ourselves. It teaches humility. It builds empathy. It forges resilience and inner strength.

In broken seasons, we don’t just survive—we are shaped.

Scripture is filled with examples:

  • Moses, burdened by insecurity and a painful past, became a deliverer.

  • David, flawed and imperfect, grew into a man after God’s own heart.

  • Peter, impulsive and inconsistent, became a foundation of the early church.

Their weaknesses were not disqualifications—they were preparation.


When Strength Is Refined Through Suffering

Even those known for righteousness were not spared hardship.

  • Job endured devastating loss that refined his faith.

  • Paul faced persecution, imprisonment, and rejection, yet emerged with unwavering purpose.

Their stories remind us that faith and adversity often walk hand in hand. Growth is rarely comfortable, but it is always intentional.


Embracing Brokenness on the Road to Maverick Excellence

If you are in a season of brokenness, take heart.

Speak honestly with God. Ask Him to reveal purpose within the pain. Allow this chapter to shape you rather than define you. Brokenness is not the end of your story—it may be the beginning of your transformation.

This is the heart of the Maverick mindset: choosing resilience over resignation, hope over despair, growth over stagnation.

Seasons change. Healing comes. Strength returns.


Final Encouragement: Becoming Maverick Through Adversity

If you are walking through a hard season, know this: your struggle is not wasted.

Brokenness can become a bridge to purpose. Pain can become preparation. As Les Brown says, “It is possible.” And I’ll add this—you are stronger than you think.

Keep pressing forward on your journey of Becoming Maverick.

Please share some hope with someone today.

Till next time,

Becoming Maverick

Shalom!

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Living with Intention: My Path to Becoming Maverick

Welcome back to "Becoming Maverick," a blog where I unpack my personal journey through life, sharing the lessons I've learned and the challenges I've overcome. It's a story of resilience, courage, and growth, inspired by the origin of the word "Maverick."


The term "Maverick" originated from the name of a Texas rancher, Samuel Maverick, who was known for his independent spirit and refusal to brand his cattle. He allowed his cattle to roam freely and unbranded, which went against the common practice of the time. Samuel Maverick's non-conformity and individuality led to the term "Maverick" being used to describe someone who is independent, unconventional, and unafraid to challenge the status quo.

In this blog, I share some personal experiences, insights, and reflections as I've embraced my own Maverick mindset and navigated through life's challenges and opportunities. I'll be candid about the lessons I've learned, the mistakes I've made, and the wisdom I've gained along the way. My aim is to give hope and inspiration to those who may be facing their own challenges or seeking guidance on their own journey towards success.


Through my journey, I've come to realize that Becoming Maverick is about more than just being independent and unconventional. It's also about giving purpose and meaning to life. As Earl Nightingale once said, "A life without purpose is like a ship without a guidance system." So many people simply let life happen to them, without actively pursuing their passions, dreams, and goals. But being a Maverick is about living life with intention, purpose, and direction.

In this blog, I also explore how finding purpose and meaning in life has been a driving force behind my journey of Becoming Maverick. I share some of my passions, setting clear goals, and aligning my actions with my values have given my life direction and helped me navigate through challenges and setbacks. I will also discuss how embracing change, taking risks, and learning from failures have been essential in my pursuit of purposeful living.


To all the regular readers, thank you for your continued support and engagement. Your encouragement and feedback have been invaluable on this journey of Becoming Maverick. I hope our diverse perspectives and insights will inspired you and provided you with encouragement and motivation.


For those who are new to the blog, welcome! I encourage you to return and join us on this journey of self-discovery, growth, and purposeful living. As John C. Maxwell once said, "You don't have to be intentional to exist, but you do have to be intentional to live." If you resonate with our message of embracing challenges, living with intention, and finding meaning in life, I invite you to share this blog with anyone who could benefit from diverse perspectives or needs some encouragement on their own journey.


Together, let's continue to explore the joys and challenges of life, uncover the power of purpose, and embrace the Maverick mindset. Thank you for being a part of our community, and I look forward to sharing more insights and lessons with you in the future.

 Please feel free to leave comment, I would appreciate your perspective.


With gratitude,

Steven WAYNE Nicholls


The Power of Play: How Play Shapes the Brain, Emotions, and Innovation

Play (noun):
Engagement in activities for enjoyment, exploration, and creativity, essential for cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and social learning across all ages.

Play is often dismissed as something we “outgrow.” Science — and lived experience — says the opposite.


The Science of Play: Why Play Is Essential for Success, Happiness, and Human Development

On my journey of Becoming Maverick, I’ve spent years working as an environmental educator and youth mentor with organisations such as WESSA Bush Pigs, F.R.O.G.S Enviro-Adventure Centre, Camp Tholo, youth groups, and gap year programmes. Across wild spaces, classrooms, camps, and conversations, one truth keeps surfacing:

Play is not optional. It is foundational.


Play Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Human Need

Play is far more than entertainment. Research consistently shows that play is a critical driver of human development, shaping how we think, relate, and adapt.

In fact, the United Nations recognises play as a fundamental right of every child, highlighting its importance for healthy growth and wellbeing.

Through play, children naturally develop:

  • Problem-solving and critical thinking skills

  • Creativity and imagination

  • Emotional regulation and resilience

  • Social awareness and cooperation

These aren’t “soft skills.” They’re life skills.


What Science Says About Play-Based Learning

Studies in psychology, neuroscience, and education reveal that unstructured play plays a key role in brain development.

When children engage in free, imaginative play, they are more likely to:

  • Think creatively and experiment without fear of failure

  • Build emotional intelligence and empathy

  • Develop curiosity-driven learning habits

  • Strengthen cognitive flexibility and focus

Play creates a safe environment where mistakes become teachers — not threats.


Why Play Still Matters for Adults

Play doesn’t stop being valuable when childhood ends — we just stop giving ourselves permission.

Adults who intentionally engage in play experience:

  • Reduced stress and anxiety

  • Increased creativity and innovation

  • Improved mental health and emotional balance

  • Stronger teamwork and problem-solving abilities

In workplaces, play fuels innovation. In families, it builds connection. In personal growth, it restores joy.

We don’t lose play because we grow old — we grow rigid because we stop playing.


The Decline of Play and the Rise of Mental Health Challenges

Modern life has quietly pushed play aside.

As screen time, rigid schedules, and performance pressure increase, free play is disappearing, particularly for children. Research links this decline to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.

When play disappears, so does:

  • Emotional exploration

  • Risk-free learning

  • Natural stress release

  • Imaginative problem-solving

Reintroducing play isn’t indulgent — it’s preventative.


Reclaiming Play in Everyday Life

Prioritising play doesn’t require expensive toys or structured programmes. It requires time, permission, and presence.

Play can look like:

  • Outdoor exploration

  • Creative expression

  • Games, storytelling, and imagination

  • Curiosity-led learning

  • Moments of laughter without agenda

Play is where resilience is built quietly — and joy returns naturally.


The Maverick Takeaway

Play is not the opposite of productivity.
It is the engine behind creativity, wellbeing, and sustainable success.

When we honour play — in children and adults — we create healthier individuals and more adaptive communities.


Timeless Wisdom on Play

“Play is the highest form of research.”Albert Einstein

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”Plato

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”George Bernard Shaw


Reflection Prompts 

  • When was the last time I played without a goal or outcome?

  • Where has play been squeezed out of my daily life — and why?

  • How could I reintroduce play in small, meaningful ways this week?

  • What does play look like for me now, as an adult?

Final Thoughts: Choosing Play in a Performance-Driven World

In a world that constantly rewards busyness, achievement, and measurable outcomes, play can feel unnecessary — even irresponsible. But science, history, and human experience tell a different story.

Play is where curiosity is protected, resilience is formed, and joy is restored. It is how children make sense of the world — and how adults remember who they are beyond roles, pressure, and productivity. When we make space for play, we are not stepping away from growth; we are returning to its source.

Becoming an Everyday Maverick means having the courage to value what truly sustains us, even when society tells us to outgrow it. Play reminds us that learning doesn’t have to be forced, creativity doesn’t need permission, and wellbeing isn’t something we earn — it’s something we nurture.

Choosing play is choosing wholeness. And that choice might be one of the most meaningful acts of leadership we can offer the next generation — and ourselves.


Further Reading: Exploring the Science and Power of Play

If you’d like to dive deeper into the research and ideas behind play, creativity, and human development, these accessible resources offer valuable insight:

  • Brown, S., & Vaughan, C. (2009). Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.
    A foundational exploration of how play influences brain development, emotional health, and creativity across the lifespan.

  • Gray, P. (2011). The Decline of Play and the Rise of Children’s Mental Health Challenges. Psychology Today.
    An insightful article examining how reduced free play correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and emotional distress in children.

  • Guzzetti, B. J. (2018). The Power of Play: The Effects of Play-Based Learning on Children and Adults. Insight Education Group.
    A practical look at how play-based learning supports cognitive growth, innovation, and emotional intelligence in both education and work environments.

  • Pellegrini, A. D., & Bohn, C. M. (2005). The Role of Recess in Children’s Cognitive Performance. Journal of Educational Psychology.
    Academic research highlighting the importance of unstructured breaks and play for focus, learning, and academic performance.

Shalom!

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How to Apply Philippians 4:8–9 to Improve Your Life and Mindset

How to Apply Philippians 4:8–9 to Improve Your Life

Biblical Mindset, Mental Resilience, and Everyday Growth

Biblical mindset refers to intentionally aligning your thoughts, attitudes, and actions with God’s truth in order to cultivate peace, wisdom, emotional resilience, and purposeful living.


Introduction: Why Philippians 4:8–9 Still Matters Today

In a world saturated with negativity, anxiety, and constant noise, Philippians 4:8–9 offers a counter-cultural strategy for mental clarity and spiritual strength. The Apostle Paul doesn’t just tell us what to think about — he gives us a practical framework for how to live.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things… And the God of peace will be with you.”

This passage connects thought life, daily habits, and inner peace. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s disciplined thinking — and it works.


The Power of Thought: A Biblical and Scientific Alignment

Philippians 4:8 speaks directly to what modern psychology calls cognitive restructuring — the practice of identifying, challenging, and replacing destructive thought patterns with healthier ones.

Cognitive Reframing and Faith

Cognitive behavioural science confirms what Scripture has been saying all along:

  • Your thoughts shape your emotions

  • Your emotions influence your behaviour

  • Your behaviour determines your outcomes

When we consistently focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, and admirable, we actively rewire our thinking. This isn’t denial of reality — it’s choosing which parts of reality get authority over your life.

Faith doesn’t ignore hardship. It refuses to let hardship dominate the mind.


Gratitude: A Spiritual Discipline with Scientific Backing

Another key principle embedded in Philippians 4:8–9 is gratitude.

Modern research shows that gratitude:

  • Reduces stress and anxiety

  • Improves emotional regulation

  • Increases resilience and life satisfaction

  • Strengthens relationships

Spiritually, gratitude shifts our posture from scarcity to abundance. Practically, it retrains the brain to notice what is working, not just what is broken.

Gratitude is not passive positivity — it’s intentional attention.


“Put It into Practice”: Where Transformation Actually Happens

Philippians 4:9 moves us from mindset to movement:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.”

This is where many people stall. Insight without application changes nothing.

Applying Philippians 4:8–9 looks like:

  • Monitoring what you consume (media, conversations, inputs)

  • Interrupting negative self-talk

  • Practising gratitude daily, not occasionally

  • Choosing excellence in small, unseen decisions

  • Acting on what you already know — not waiting for new revelation

Peace follows obedience, not just belief.


Real-Life Examples of Philippians 4:8–9 in Action

Nelson Mandela: Choosing Hope Over Bitterness

Nelson Mandela’s unwavering optimism in the face of injustice reflects the heart of Philippians 4:8. Despite prolonged imprisonment and personal loss, he chose hope, dignity, and reconciliation over despair.

“Keeping one's head pointed toward the sun and one's feet moving forward is part of being optimistic.”

Mandela understood that where the mind goes, the life follows.


Albert Einstein: Wonder, Excellence, and the Noble Mind

Einstein’s reverence for wonder and curiosity speaks to focusing on what is excellent and admirable.

“The inexplicable is the most wonderful thing we can encounter… He who can no longer pause to marvel is as good as dead.”

A life that marvels is a life that remains open, teachable, and alive — exactly the posture Philippians 4:8 invites.


Everyday Maverick Reflection

Being an Everyday Maverick doesn’t mean ignoring reality — it means choosing a higher frame.

Philippians 4:8–9 teaches us that:

  • Peace is cultivated, not stumbled upon

  • Thought discipline is a spiritual practice

  • Excellence is a daily decision

  • Faith must be lived, not merely admired

When you train your mind to dwell on what is good and train your hands to practise what is true, peace becomes your companion, not your goal.


Journaling & Reflection

Personal Reflection

  1. Which of the Philippians 4:8 qualities do I struggle most to focus on — truth, purity, excellence, or gratitude?

  2. What thoughts currently dominate my mind, and how do they influence my mood and decisions?

  3. Where have I allowed negativity, fear, or comparison to shape my thinking?

Practical Application

  1. What is one habit I can change this week to align my thinking with what is true and life-giving?

  2. How can I intentionally practise gratitude each day, even during challenging seasons?

  3. What does “putting my faith into practice” look like in my work, family life, or relationships?

Growth & Awareness

  1. What inputs (media, conversations, routines) strengthen my mindset — and which ones drain it?

  2. Where have I experienced peace as a result of obedience rather than circumstance?

  3. How might my life look different if I consistently trained my thoughts instead of reacting to them?

Everyday Maverick Challenge

  1. For the next seven days, note one thing each day that is true, noble, or praiseworthy — and reflect on how it affects your perspective.

Final Thought

Philippians 4:8–9 is more than encouragement — it’s a strategy for mental health, spiritual growth, and resilient living. Align your thoughts. Practise what you believe. And let peace follow.

Shalom!

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How to Find Comfort When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

 

Finding Comfort in Life’s Trials

How Faith, Resilience, and Perspective Shape the Everyday Maverick

Comfort in adversity refers to the emotional, psychological, and spiritual reassurance people experience during hardship. It is often cultivated through faith, resilience, and the ability to reframe difficult experiences as meaningful rather than defeating.


Becoming Maverick in the Midst of Adversity

On my journey of Becoming Maverick, adversity has not been a detour — it has been part of the terrain. When life presses hard, I often return to Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

This verse grounds me. Not because it denies pain, but because it reframes it. It reminds me that even when circumstances feel chaotic or unfair, God is still at work — weaving purpose through pressure, meaning through mess.

For the Everyday Maverick, this verse is not passive comfort. It’s an invitation to trust the process while still showing up with courage, curiosity, and responsibility.


Faith Meets Science: Practical Principles for Perseverance

What’s fascinating is how closely modern science echoes this ancient wisdom.

Resilience — the ability to recover from adversity while maintaining mental and emotional health — is not a fixed trait. Research shows it can be learned, strengthened, and practiced. In other words, resilience isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you build.

Another powerful concept is cognitive reframing: the practice of changing how we interpret a situation in order to reduce negative emotions and uncover growth opportunities. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” reframing asks, “What could this be shaping in me?”

Romans 8:28 is, in many ways, a spiritual form of cognitive reframing. It invites us to see beyond the immediate pain and trust that something redemptive is unfolding — even when we can’t yet see it.


A Real-Life Reflection: When Setbacks Become Signals

Oprah Winfrey’s story is a compelling example of this principle in action.

Early in her career, she was fired from her first television job in Baltimore. At the time, it felt devastating — a rejection that seemed to signal the end of her dreams. But with hindsight, Oprah describes that moment as a turning point rather than a failure.

The setback forced her to pause, reflect, and realign. She realised she had been trying to fit into someone else’s expectations instead of honouring her authentic strengths. That rejection redirected her toward a path that ultimately led to the creation of her own network and a life of deep influence and purpose.

What once felt like loss became alignment.

That’s Romans 8:28 in real time.


Voices That Echo the Same Truth

Across history, people who changed the world understood that adversity is not the opposite of purpose — it’s often the doorway to it:

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”Mother Teresa

“Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”Nelson Mandela

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”Albert Einstein

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Different fields. Same truth.


Everyday Maverick Takeaway

Romans 8:28 doesn’t promise an easy life. It promises a meaningful one.

When trials come — and they will — the Everyday Maverick doesn’t deny the pain or rush the process. Instead, we:

  • build resilience

  • practice reframing

  • stay curious about what adversity might be shaping

  • trust that purpose is still in motion, even when clarity isn’t

So when life gets tough, don’t just ask for relief. Ask for perspective. Ask for growth. And remember: God is still working — not just around you, but within you — for good.

Shalom!

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Photo by Taryn Elliott: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-mountain-during-dawn-3889935/

Girls & Dads: The Everyday Mavericks - How Safe, Available Fathers Raise Hope-Filled Girls

  Father: From Old English fæder , meaning protector and source. Today’s Everyday Maverick dad provides safety, availability, and hope—at ...