I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. And a lot of reading.
My goal this year has been to experience change in several areas of life, areas including spiritual, physical, and mental health. At the beginning of the year, I chose several activities I wanted to implement in an effort to improve my life.
I started this year with a plan to read at least one book each month, listen to a sermon each day, make my Bible the very first thing I do every morning, and several other things.
Guess what?
I've not done a very good job.
I haven't been horrible. I am almost finished with book number 3. I've listened to a number of sermons, but certainly not one every day. I have read my Bible regularly (as is my habit). But I honestly don't feel like I've made much progress (contrary to what my intentions were in January).
I started working out with a personal trainer several months ago. As I've aged, I've gained a few pounds, and I would love to drop the extra weight. I've tried just about everything, and I just can't shake these 10-15 pounds.
But I have learned something valuable working with the trainer--something I already knew but it has been reinforced. Each month, the trainer gives us a monthly challenge to really push us. One month, it was a squat challenge where we started with 10 squats on the first of the month and finished with 110 on the last day of the month. One month was a similar challenge with crunches. One month was a challenge to drink 100 ounces of water every day.
What I have learned is that focusing on this one thing has really helped me succeed. Even better, some of the challenges have become habits (such as drinking 100 ounces of water each day), things that improve my health every single day.
And this is the story of life. It's so easy to see the things that need to change and try to attack them all. Guess what?
It doesn't work.
But if I choose one thing, I am more likely to find success. After establishing that one thing as a habit, I can then begin to think about what the next thing will be, and hopefully the first thing will become a habit. When I find success in one thing, my mindset shifts to realize I can do hard things. I find success which helps propel me forward.
As I've worked with the trainer, I've learned about myself. I've learned that I am willing to rise to a challenge. I am a goal setter. I am consistent in those things that really matter to me.
I've also learned that I get frustrated when I don't see results. Despite my consistency and adherence to my workouts, I've yet to lose any weight. I am mostly compliant with my nutrition, but nothing is working.
And I am frustrated.
I find myself wondering why I am working so hard, sacrificing so much. I find myself wanting to just throw my goal out the window and accept the status quo. Despite over four months of not missing a workout, I'm struggling to keep going.
Have you been there? You want something. You work toward the goal. You do things right. Yet you don't see the results you expect.
It's frustrating.
I continue clinging to hope. I have a doctor's appointment to get a check of my thyroid and other hormones. I am exhausting every option in an effort to reach my goal
I want change in my life.
So how do we create lasting change in our lives? How do we create the life we want?
Start small. As we mentioned above, start with one thing. Small starts lead to lasting change. Small starts lead to habits. Small starts are the gateway to life-altering changes.
Find one thing you want to do. Do you want to lose weight? Start drinking 100 ounces of water each day. Do you want to improve your spiritual health? Start by reading the Bible every day. Do you want to change the way you think? Start by listening to Christian music.
Eliminate one thing. Just as important as what we add to our lives is what we take away. Sometimes there are things that simply need to be removed from our lives. Maybe that thing is a distraction. Maybe it is a time-waster. Maybe it just doesn't add value.
Just this week, I deleted social media from my phone. For the most part, I don't have a problem with social media when used properly. But, what I found was that the temptation to look at Facebook on my phone was preventing me from my making my time with God the first thing I do each day. Facebook on my phone was a distraction, the place I turned in moments of boredom and emotionally charged circumstances. I simply got fed up with giving social media a higher priority in my day than God, and I chose to eliminate it.
Be patient. Can I tell you this one is hard? I want immediate results. When I don't see the results I want and expect, I want to quit.
True change takes time. Sometimes lots of time. Maybe we don't see immediate results in our spiritual health, but if we choose to stay in the game, the change will come. Or maybe our thinking doesn't change immediately, but if we continue in the process we will eventually be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have to remember it's a marathon, and we have to train ourselves to stay the course.
Remember His strength is made perfect in our weakness. It's in the Bible.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
I often forget that I don't have to live this life--create life-long change--on my own. Instead, I have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in me, creating strength in the midst of my weakness. I need to remember to pause, ask God for the success I so long for.
And that's where our true strength, our true change comes from--from the power at work within us. We can let go of the stress of trying to enact change and rest in His promises, His power.
That's my goal in the days moving forward. How about you?
