Kick Stagnation Off The Throne

I learned something new this week:  sometimes, you have to encourage yourself to continue when encouragement from others is not forthcoming. Not an aha moment for me, but a reminder of how critical we are to our own success; that if we are to complete seemingly larger-than-life assignments, we must prepare ourselves to keep going no matter the obstacle. A sincere desire to see our manifested vision filling a need must become an anchor —  cheering us on to keep plugging away when positive feedback is woefully slow or non-existent.

This week, as I continued to mull over ideas for business, I had to convince myself of the value of a product that I believed in wholeheartedly. Even though ideas were not coming together as planned, it was no reflection on the value of my product.

As I struggled to pull loose ends together, I became discouraged about my lack of overall progress in planning the business and its eventual launch. And of course I continued to obsess about some basic organizing principles without making a firm decision on what to do. These factors led to me question whether or not to continue with my business plans.  After going back and forth in my mind about what to do, I began reflecting on what led me to this point.

Hadn’t I heard from God before I even started the planning process? Isn’t this the vision that I believed God birthed in me more than two years ago? Unequivocally, yes, yes, yes!

What happened is that I had allowed stagnation in one area of planning  to settle in and take control, without giving credence to what was already accomplished and functional. Nor could I see the entire road ahead.  

While contemplating how to move forward, I had to remind myself  of the commitment to the vision and the real purpose and beneficiaries of the work I’ve been tasked to do. I made a mental note of  successful milestone, as well as and what else needed to be done to get the business off the ground.

Then I recalled something that I’d learned a numberof years ago that still rings true today: that the reward is not given to the swift, but to those who edure to the end.  In essence, endurance takes time and I still have work to do. In addition, success is slow and steady progress. If success is in my future, I have no choice but to endure to the end.

What about you? Have you allowed stagnation to settle in, take residence and become captain?

Why not just kick stagnation off the throne?

 

When Choices Meet Consequences

Two people. Different choices. Similar results.

I watched with interest this week as two people made life-altering choices that may produce very similar results. One person is facing serious legal ramifications, forever affecting the course that his life takes, as well as his long-term productivity. The other person – though not entangled with the legal system – has made a decision that will forever affect the productivity of her life as well. Both are unprepared for their perspective track – too young to be caught up in a system that’s neither kind nor fruitful.  

I’m sure that neither started out with their current situations in mind. At some point, their dreams were larger than life. At some point, they believed in overcoming the odds that may have been attached to them.

Ironically, they were just getting started — young enough to believe that dreams do come true and potentially had enough time to accomplish them. 

Now, however, whatever trail they were blazing has been derailed by their choices, undoubtedly pulling unwilling family members into the mix. The direct path to succeeding against odds suddenly became a roundabout, which is not God’s best intention for our lives. His desire is that wisdom and knowledge guide our decisions at the outset so that we walk unencumbered and reach our full potential.

What happens to the potential that is locked within them – untapped right at this very moment – but awaiting birth? What about their dreams?  Are they lost forever or just delayed?  The reality is that it’s out of their hands. They no longer have an option to choose what happens immediately because the consequences of their decisions come into play and are outside of their control. Most times, the full consequences and accompanying resolutions come over time. So instead of being where they should be when they should be, they are far from the original plan.

When we rob ourselves of our potential by making choices that are not good for us, we miss out on the full manifestation of God’s blessings that comes with being in the right place at the right time.

We also miss out on the opportunity to bless others fully with what God has blessed us with.

 

Mind, Don’t Go There

The mind.  A vast container. A great influencer.

While preparing for a procedure this week, I noted reluctantly my entire food intake the day before would be limited to clear liquids and/or lemon/lime jello. Nothing purple, nothing red, the instructions stated. I immediately began to mourn all the foods that I could not eat on that day and focused on all the great foods I should eat before any restrictions took place. My mind was already taking me to a place that I should not go.

 In addition, the only other liquid I could drink was provided via prescription.  Everyone I consulted agreed that this liquid was particularly distasteful, even the fruit-flavored versions. So I dreaded even putting the first of what would be many cups to my lips.  How in the world was I to get through this and what followed?  I was advised, on the one hand, to drink fast; and on the other hand, to sip slowly. I decided to drink as fast as I could without allowing the liquid to touch my tongue.  In my mind, I had already anticipated the worst, resigned myself to it, and prepared for it. Yes, my mind had already gone there.

But what I prepared for never happened.  In fact, the process was a non-issue – sort of.  While I expected to miss eating solid foods, I kept busy most of the day and thought little about food. Plus, the prescribed liquid’s salt-like taste was very familiar to my taste buds and my initial sip became a gulp that didn’t quite settle on the inside.  But when my brain registered its familiarity, I began sipping the next cups at a slower pace. Not only was I able to finish, but did so within a reasonable timeframe.

When all was settled and done, I realized that my mind unnecessarily had taken me places that I should not have been.  By expecting and even anticipating someone else’s experience to be my own, I almost missed out on a true blessing : a unique experience so unlike the negative stories I’d heard, which complemented by capacity to successfully go through.

Victory — Just Around the Corner

One pound, one week. That’s my new mantra. At least, for now it is.

Yes, I’m on another journey. Another path. Another set of outcomes to anticipate. And another expectation of victory. Yes!  Although I’ve been on a quest to lose pounds for a very long time, I know that victory is just around the corner.  

Needless to say, I tend to carry this baggage into the New Year each year, always hoping that January would bring a new start; that I would finally win the battle against an expansive waistline.

While I’ve never been fanatical about dieting, I’ve made some strides in developing a healthier lifestyle by making better food choices and exercising. I went from Jazzercise to gym workouts to walking tapes and now power walking. In my mind, this was half the battle. Get moving and the pounds would come off! Right? Wrong!!!!! How wrong I was! Sure, I lost inches but weight loss was net zero. I had not consistently adhered to the other critical component that stimulates weight loss – healthy eating along with portion control.

What a battle this has been! But the real battle was in getting my actions  to reflect my earnest desire to lose weight. I was inconsistent at best, and lacked the discipline to follow through to the end. Distractions interrupted my efforts time and time again. While I was great at starting, I was equally enthused about developing new habits and saying goodbye to trusted food obsessions. But I never made it to the finish line because of my impatience with the long-time process and painstakingly slow results. So I’d quit before giving my body and mind time enough to adjust.

This time around, however, my actions complement my true desire. I enjoy my eating plan and it’s not as difficult to stay the course as I first anticipated. Victory is well within reach — just around the corner. Why? Because my desire to change is much greater than my desire to stay the same.

What about you? Reflect on one of your challenges with regard to change. Ask yourself, “Is my desire to change greater than my desire to stay the same? If so, and move toward your new commitment and look for victory – just around the corner.