Ley - Grace, not perfection - embracing simplicity, celebrating joy

PRAISE FOR GRACE, NOT PERFECTION

In some of the most grace-filled words I have ever encountered, Emily Ley offers women a much-needed exhale and permission to be a priority. Grace, Not Perfection is the end of depleted, maxed-out, and unfulfilled days and the beginning of realistic standards that allow you to joyfully live and breathe.

RACHEL MACY STAFFORD

New York Times bestselling author of Hands Free Mama and Hands Free Life

Grace, Not Perfection is a must-read for all women. Whether you are a mom, student, sister, or wife, Emily has written a book for all of us who struggle with letting go of perfection. Practical and beautifully written, Grace, Not Perfection gives us the freedom to make what matters happen and to step into a life of purpose. Get ready for a joy-filled journey as you turn each page!

LARA CASEY

author of Make It Happen and Cultivate

Women across America, myself included, have watched Emily Leys story unfold, and theyve wondered, How does she do it all? This book is the gracious and life-giving answer to that question. Emily steps down off the pedestal that so many women put her on to give a vibrant, honest, and wisdom-filled answer for our generation. Her strategies will make simplicity and prioritizing your two favorite words, and youll feel renewed purpose to do the things youre meant to dowith a huge blessing to throw off the notion that you must do it all. Thank you, Emily, for this book!

JESS CONNOLLY

coauthor of Wild and Free, womens speaker

From the outside, it looks like Emily does everything beautifully and does it well. This book, however, also gives you a look into the heart of the woman who helps thousands of women plan their days. For this reformed perfectionist, this book hits all the right notes. Its a grace-filled invitation to let go of do-it-all and step into a simpler, more gracious way of livingmore margin, more truth, more heart.

HAYLEY MORGAN

coauthor of Wild and Free and cofounder of The Influence Conference

This book speaks to the soul. Its a must-read for all women, especially moms and entrepreneurs!

COURTNEY WHITMORE

cookbook author and blogger at pizzazzerie.com

Grace, Not Perfection has been a lullaby to me at the end of each day as I read in bed, weary from the challenges of the day behind me. As I turned each page, I would feel the weight of the day leaving me. The warmth in Emily's words felt like the comfort of a sage older sister pointing me back to my Father, to a God who is so much bigger than my plans and, thankfully, in complete control when I feel the darkness of stress and worry creeping into my heart. Its difficult to feel that we can actually give ourselves grace in the middle of so much hustle, but its necessary. And absolutely possible.

ERIN NAPIER

host of HGTVs Home Town and owner of Lucky Luxe

Presented to:

From:

Date:

Grace, Not Perfection

2016 by Emily Ley

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Interior photography credits: Gina Zeidler, Shay Cochrane, and Laura Foote.

Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version). Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-0-7180-8522-3

ISBN-13: 978-0-7180-8525-4 (eBook)

16 17 18 19 20 WAI 6 5 4 3 2 1

In this ebook edition, please use your devices note-taking function to record your thoughts wherever you see the bracketed instructions [Your Notes] or [Your Response Here]. Use your devices highlighting function to record your response whenever you are asked to checkmark, circle, underline, or otherwise indicate your answer(s).

CONTENTS

15. Love Your Season

IM SO HONORED THAT my book found its way into your hands. I know firsthand that the hamster wheel of trying to do it all is an exhausting place to be. I understand the circusbecause as a wife, mom of three, business owner, designer, and hopeless overachiever, I am living it. I know how difficult and fast and overwhelming life can be when you want it all and want to do it all perfectly. I know those aches of your heart. I know that you were probably going in ten different directions as fast as you could today and picked this book up in search of a little relief from it all. Thank you for letting me share my story and what Ive learned along the way with you. Lets pretend were having coffee at your local coffee shop. Ill share my journey with you and give some tactical tips along the way. But this book isnt just about me. This book is about youthe deepest, most sincere desires of your heart. Well walk through interactive checklists, questions, and strategies. Be preparedwell laugh too. If Ive learned anything, its that having a sense of humor amid the craziness is crucial.

Although my degrees are in English and public administration, I decided to follow a dream. I Googled many questions in the wee hours of the morning while working two full-time jobs and taught myself to be a designer. In 2011, after the birth of my first son, I created the Simplified Plannera simple agenda designed very minimally on purpose, to give busy women a tactical, fresh start every day. Since then, my tiny idea has grown into a product line sold in hundreds of stores around the world, and my solo operation has grown into a team of six incredibly talented women. My family has grown as wellwith twins. I am so humbled and honored to share my journey with you. Its not a perfect one, but looking back, I can see God perfectly orchestrating every failure and milestone into a song of daily surrender and joy.

As a designer, I am very concerned with image, with crafting seamless, consistent messaging and perfectly tweaked visuals. Without a doubt, that bleeds into my personal life. I know what the chase to have it all together does to a girl who has big dreams and simply wants to be the best she can be. And Ive learned (by falling on my face quite a few times) that being perfect isnt really all its cracked up to be, that real life is so much richer. Throughout these pages, well explore what it takes to live in an authentic state of grace that lets you escape those feelings of endless struggle and defeatthe ones we often cover over with a carefully constructed image. Together, well take a look at practical steps you can take to free your mind from Pinterest perfection and have grace with yourself. Well dig in to the struggles we all face as we try to be our best for our people, and we'll discuss strategies for delivering and receiving grace within those circles. And lastly, well explore what it means to step into your true calling in a way that allows you to be your best, most real, most joyful self. In a world that holds us up to a standard of perfection at every turn, you can find something better: grace.