Two weeks ago today we moved into our new home in NJ. We've been busy buying and building furniture (IKEA for the win!), meeting some neighbors (we have Bob's on either side of us and a Paul across the street...no joke!), unpacking and organizing, exploring and getting to know our neighborhood, and counting the different types of animals that make their way into our backyard. Three so far, a deer, a woodchuck (which is also known as a groundhog...the names are synonymous <--- we looked it up!) and a FOX! Kyle is the one who saw the fox and when I asked him what he said, I got one of the best "looks" I have seen in a while.

You know the kind that are like, I kind of want to laugh, but I'm a teenager so whatever you say automatically isn't funny type of looks.

Anywho, I have taken this time to really just dig into the house and focus solely on getting things put together and "livable" and it honestly has been great. There is a lot to be said for allowing yourself time every now and then to just take a step back and breathe. I'm at a bit of a "starting over" phase with my business so I might not have an opportunity to do this again for a while!

This is our backyard. Now you see why all the animals of the forest like to come hang out with us. BTW...that is Guinness, NOT a sly little fox. =)

In addition to IKEA, Target, Pier 1, and Bed, Bath and Beyond, we have spent an inordinate amount of time in Home Depot. Paul is in heaven!

A view from my morning walk in the neighborhood. I see many walks in my future. Guinness is gonna get a workout!

Despite the brief time away, the mind of an entrepreneur never really shuts off. Even though I haven't been "actively" working on my business, I have been thinking a lot about where I want to go next and how I want to get there.

The word PERSPECTIVE has been crossing my mind a lot since we moved. My situation is not ideal for a self-employed photographer, blogger and business owner.

I have what feels like a impossibly difficult to climb mountain directly in front of my face.

It's been staring me down ever since I knew for sure we were moving. How are you going to deal with this Cinnamon? Good luck getting to the top of me! This situation is insurmountable, good luck trying to figure it out! You should probably just give up and turn around because I'm too high, too rocky, you are totally going to fall off and fall flat on your face, why even try?

I could do that. I could turn around and walk away. I could take this situation I am in and complain and cry and whine about how life isn't fair and none of the other "popular" photographers and business owners I follow have had to deal with THIS mountain! They haven't struggled against THESE difficulties. They have never had to move their family and business across the country. They are a husband and wife team, how hard can it be! They have 10k followers on Instagram and thousands of blog followers, of COURSE it works out for them!!

But then the wise words of Sister Hazel ring through my mind....

If you wanna be somebody else....change your mind.

Perspective shift.

The way we THINK about things influences every aspect of our lives. If I am constantly looking up at the mountain and thinking about how big it is, I'll never climb it. I have to just start. One step at a time. Sure maybe it will take a while...maybe even a really, really long while.

But if what is at the top is important enough, the steps are 100% necessary.

Spending my time looking at others who are already SPRINTING down the backside of the mountain does NOTHING to help me achieve my own goals.

This week I read something that resonated with me especially in this season I am in. (If you aren't signed up for Seth Godin's newsletter...go sign up! .....after you finish this post of course...)

...We don't have to look very far to find someone who is better paid, more respected and getting more than his fair share of credit.

And social media: Of course there are people with more followers, more likes and more of just about anything you'd like to measure.

So what?

What is the comparison for? Is it your job to be the most at a thing?

.....Just because a thing can be noticed, or compared, or fretted over doesn't mean it's important, or even relevant....

The most important comparison, in fact, is comparing your work to what you're capable of.

Seth Godin Quote | Lessons in Perspective | Cinnamon Wolfe Photography | NJ & NYC

I know what I am capable of. This needs to be my perspective. What am I doing compared to what I know I am capable of doing? That gets me excited. That gets me jazzed. That does not make me want to cry or whine. It scares me a little because it might involve a lot of hard work, but I KNOW the top of the mountain is within reach, the steps just need to start.

Have you thought about what you are capable of? How can you relate that to your business? Tell me all about it in the comments or in an email!