Be a Harriet: The 6-Step Plan of a Successful Woman

I recently went to see the movie 'Harriet', an historical account of the life of Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman, with my husband, and our daughter.

The production was nothing short of phenomenal. The riveting storyline and the amazing performance of the cast had me mesmerized from the moment the film began to the very last scene.

However, watching the movie provided me with more than just a couple of hours of entertainment. It challenged me to take a closer look at the internal characteristics that enabled Ms.Tubman to make the choices she made to gain her freedom.

After some thought, I determined that there are six principles that helped Harriet Tubman to be a force that changed history, and I’ve shared them, below.

1. Harriet was a woman with a vision.
I can only imagine the nights young Harriet lay in her cabin dreaming about what it would be like to be free. It was probably the last thing on her mind as she slipped off to sleep, after a long day working out in the fields, and her first thought at the light of day. She focused her heart on the dream of being free, and she was willing to do anything to get it, even if it meant facing death.

Just like Harriet, each of us must have a vision for our future. One of my favorite passages of scripture states, “where there is no vision, the people perish”. This means without a long-term plan—without a vision—you will be doomed to wander aimlessly.

If you don’t have a clear idea of your dreams, take some time to figure it out. Start keeping a journal as a way to help you clarify your thoughts. You might even want to meet and talk with a close friend or two to help you gain some perspective. Let the year of 2020 be a year of perfecting your vision.

2. Harriet was a woman with a plan.
Harriet didn't just wake up one day and decide to run. She had been planning for a long time. She studied the roads and landmarks as she worked out in the fields, and walked from one plantation to another. She knew the direction in which the river flowed, and when the opportunity presented itself, she was ready.

Dreams and visions come from the right side of the brain, but planning and analytical thinking requires that you engage the left side of your brain. It involves getting the information you need, and applying it accordingly.

It's not enough to have a dream. It will be necessary to spend time making detailed plans to accomplish the vision. You must engage both sides of your brain to accomplish your goals.

3. Harriet was a woman of deep faith.
Harriet had every reason not to have faith and to be afraid. As an illiterate slave on the run, she wouldn't be able to read written directions or road signs, and she was a woman traveling, alone. She also had a serious medical condition which caused her to have random fainting spells.

Although she could not yet read or write, Harriet listened intently to the words of God spoken by the slave preacher from the front steps of the plantation house. She remembered that "faith is the confidence of things hoped for and assurance about what we do not see" and that "we walk by faith and not by sight". Her faith gave her the courage she needed to conquer her fears.

It’s vitally important that we take time to build our faith. We live in a very fast paced world and it's easy to allow ourselves to be swept along in the current of busyness, but we must make our spiritual life a priority. Your faith will anchor you in times of storm and give you the stamina to persevere. It will provide you with the fuel you need to move forward.

4. Harriet was willing to take action.
There is a poignant scene in the movie where Harriet’s master and several slave catchers with bloodhounds, have her trapped on a bridge. There is no place for her to go, except into the deep, churning waters, below.

In that moment, she had to make a decision whether to be captured or to jump from the bridge. Although she had not achieved or seen it, she believed that freedom was in the North. She put her faith into action and jumped into the water proclaiming that she would rather die than to be a slave.

At some point, everyone of us comes to a "bridge" in our lives where we have to decide whether to jump to freedom or stay in bondage. It can be escaping from a toxic, abusive relationship or leaving a dead-end job to start your own business.

Making changes to achieve our goals can be scary, and usually requires sacrifice. But real faith will propel you forward. So hold fast to your dreams, make a plan, put your faith into action, and take the plunge..

5. Harriet understood her calling.
When Harriet arrived in Pennsylvania, finally escaping slavery, she could have stayed there and not returned South. After all, she had achieved her goal. She was now free.

However, Harriet was not satisfied with just being free, herself. She wanted to help her family and any others who desired to escape, as well. So she went about the business of making that happen.

Understanding that she was called to lead her people out of slavery--to be their 'Moses'-- is what kept her going back South to free more slaves, and risking her own life. In the end, she was recognized as the most fearless and successful conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Let me offer a word of caution. Sometimes we can confuse a calling with an assignment. A person's calling is connected to their core spiritual values. It's the overarching theme of one's life. In your lifetime, your calling will provide your with a variety of assignments. Assignments change, but a person's calling stays the same.

Take time to identify the calling on your life so that you don't waste time and energy chasing after assignments.

6. Harriet was a woman who had mental discipline.
After her initial escape, Harriet returned South to retrieve her husband, John, only to discover that he had married another woman, and that they were going to have a baby.

Although she was devastated, she did not allow this to emotionally derailed her.
She realized that she had a mission to complete and she ended up leading several more slaves to freedom. Harriet did not let her feelings for a man sidetrack her from doing what she needed to do.

Just like Harriet, we have to set our minds on the primary thing and not allow how we feel in the heat of the moment to determine our future. Our emotions are not dependable, and a poorly made decision could change the entire trajectory of your life.

Purpose in your heart to develop mental toughness. This means eliminating distractions and focusing your mind on the big picture. Don’t allow your current calamity to cause you to forget about the greater work that God has for you to do.

This inspirational piece was provided by 'The Working Woman Radio Show' podcast. For more information about 'The Working Woman Radio Show ', visit The Ultimate Christian Podcast Network or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dcauthen/.