Can I be honest about something I've had to learn about myself?
When things go wrong — when income drops, when plans fall apart, when the thing I was counting on disappears — I have a default setting.
Fix it. Fast. Now. By any means necessary.
And on the surface that looks like strength. It looks like resilience. It looks like a woman who handles her business.
But here's what it actually is for me —
It's survival mode wearing the costume of productivity.
Because when I am in fix-it mode, I am moving so fast trying to solve the problem that I have no capacity to hear what God is actually saying about the problem.
I am answering a question He hasn't finished asking yet.
And I have watched myself sprint past divine instruction so many times because I was too busy executing my own plan to receive His.
This is Pillar 1 of Beyond Survival Modeâ„¢ in real time.
Survival mode is not always lying in bed unable to move. Sometimes it looks like being furiously busy. Constantly solving. Perpetually managing. Moving so fast that stillness feels irresponsible.
"Be still and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10
Not be still and be lazy.
Not be still and ignore the problem.
Be still and know.
There is revelation on the other side of the stillness that you will never access in the middle of the frenzy.
The bedroom shoes were on my feet the whole time.
God was speaking the whole time.
I just had to stop long enough to look down.
💬 Comment "FIX IT MODE" if you have ever sprinted past God trying to solve something He was already handling.
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Living in a fast-paced world often conditions us to immediately react and solve problems at lightning speed, a state the author calls "fix-it mode." From personal experience, I understand how tempting it is to jump into action the moment a challenge arises. Whether it's a sudden financial shortfall, a disrupted plan, or a critical decision hanging in the balance, the instinct to fix things immediately can feel empowering and productive. However, this urgency can mask a deeper issue—being trapped in survival mode, which may look like busywork but actually blocks spiritual and emotional growth. In my own journey, adopting a faith-based approach has been transformative. By consciously choosing stillness and listening for divine instruction, I found clarity that would have been impossible to access amidst the frenzy. The scripture "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) resonates deeply, reminding me that stillness is not passivity but a purposeful space to gain revelation and wisdom. It was eye-opening to realize that my "bedroom shoes"—a metaphor for comfort and presence—were always with me, symbolizing that God’s guidance was constantly present even when I was too distracted to notice. When we operate solely in fix-it mode, we risk missing the subtle ways solutions unfold naturally when we trust the process. This balance between proactive effort and patient faith is essential, particularly for women who often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities. I encourage anyone feeling overwhelmed by constant problem-solving to pause and reflect: What if the pressure to fix everything instantly is an avoidance of deeper spiritual listening? What insights might emerge if we create space to receive rather than rush to respond? Learning to trust God with finances, relationships, and life’s uncertainties doesn’t negate action but reframes it with peace and purpose. Through embracing vulnerability and acknowledging the limitations of control, we move beyond mere survival to thrive with resilience grounded in faith. This approach nurtures healing and empowers authentic productivity—where every step is aligned with divine wisdom rather than frantic reaction. If you’ve ever sprinted past God trying to solve something He was already handling, take heart; stillness can reveal the way forward more clearly than haste ever could.