When I first heard about Young Living I thought it was just another direct sales company that overcharged for its products. I had been using oils for a year and a half when I first truly heard about Young Living from someone who personally used its oils. An influencer I follow on Instagram posted a diffuser blend she was using and tagged her separate oils account. I then followed the oils account and quickly began learning about the many harmful ingredients in the products I was using daily.

Once I began learning of the toxins I was putting in and on my body every day I decided a change needed to happen. I wanted to use essential oils more but I found out the ones I had could not be put on my skin and absolutely could not be ingested. How could I replace things like lotions, pain relievers, teeth whiteners, and perfumes with oils that I could not put in and on my body? I couldn't. So I decided to not buy any more harmful products and save up to purchase a Young Living starter kit.

On Black Friday Young Living was having a sale and I decided it was time to jump in. And I honestly am so thankful I did. When I read the things I had been using I can't believe I didn't switch sooner, but I live by the mentality "know better, do better" and give my past self-grace. When I got my oils I quickly scoured the education groups my team has on Facebook to find all the ways I could use my starter kit oils. I could not believe how many practical uses there are for oils. I quickly began sharing with my friends and family because I want everyone to know that there are options available that don't hurt just as much as they help.

Since I am a student, I have limited hours to earn money so I quickly realized the money I make babysitting would not cover the number of oils and oil-based products I wanted. I knew I wanted to completely switch my products and not just use oils for diffusing instead of lighting candles so I decided to pursue the business opportunity as well. I knew how a lot of people feel about direct sales because I had also felt that way when people I knew started selling a product "all of a sudden."

At first, I didn't want people to know I was selling the oils (great business strategy, right?). When people started asking if I was selling In the middle of January I decided to go for it. I sold one kit in January, lost a lot of followers, and have gotten a lot of comments about how I am "crazy." But I feel such peace that I am supposed to be doing this. It is like God is using this business to continue to teach me that I don't need to earn approval from others because I already have it in Him. And even if I wanted to get my need for approval satisfied I can never please everyone. And for this, I am thankful because it is easy for me to revert to striving for the approval of others and anyway God would teach me that I can't get the approval I so want from anyone but Him is a blessing.