The year is about to turn a page from 2016 to 2017. Just another day in reality, but we assign great meaning to it out of tradition. We use it as an opportunity to reassess our lives and to make promises to do appropriate steps toward change.
Why do we tend to start resolutions with great gusto and heart felt enthusiasm yet often give up within a short time? Is it because life is busy? Perhaps, it seems like a reasonable explanation but I think it goes far deeper than that. What do we default to when under stress? It is usually activities that give us a warm, fuzzy feeling, giving us an endorphin boost…old habits, often detrimental ones. What do we want to spend our time doing, especially when we are tired or stressed? Activities that we love to do, ones that require little effort or thought…and, most especially, ones that we are passionate about. That is the reality. We will suffer through uncomfortable circumstances to achieve those types of goals. My husband would work in the baking sun all day long on his race boat and toil long hours into the night to get a motor fixed for the next day’s racing…but ask him to go to the gym, never. He did was he was passionate about...and so do we. So, what can make us passionate about things you know we should do? The bottom line is we need to grab hold of a different reason for doing it…or perhaps it needs to grab hold of us. That will only happen if we change our perspective. If we see it as the enemy, we will never go near it, let alone do it. If we see it as helpful and yes, desirable, then we will go the end of the earth to obtain it. New goal for 2017: finding that one thing in the necessary lifestyle change that will make you go to the end of the earth to achieve it. What is it in that activity that could possibly give you that wonderful endorphin buzz? Find that little gem and your whole world could be transformed. So, I challenge you this week. Do not merely say that you need to lose weight or exercise more or spend more time with your kids or partner. Ask yourself what benefit these activities will make you feel happier, more fulfilled, relaxed or loved. Find those keys and you discover roots that anchor you. Those foundations will sustain you on the crummy days when life stresses you beyond your endurance and keeps you fixed on a worthwhile goal. I Pray that you first Ask the Lord for Wisdom this New Year; then Ask for His Steps for achieving His Will for your Life. God will never Ask you to Do anything, He is not Willing to Provide the wherewithal to Accomplish it. Ask in Faith, no matter how small your Faith is. He Will Answer, not always in the Way you predicted, but He is always Faithful to Answer and to Provide. Remember this New Year’s Eve that God Loves you and I Love you. May you and your loved ones be tremendously Blessed in 2017!
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AuthorJudith Utman is the author of Voices in the Wilderness. Archives
April 2020
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