Happy New Year!

Do you feel like a different person yet? Have you experienced something new in your life yet? Have you been waiting for this new year for something miraculous to change? The hype of a new year is such a wonderful feeling. The idea of a fresh start is encouraging, especially for people who feel like they’ve messed up too many times to count.

Unfortunately, things don’t just change by accident.

I remember  two years ago, on New Years 2016. I wanted to be a better person. I wanted to make better decisions. I wanted to believe the new year would change all the stuff that was going on in my life as a result of pervious years. Like some, I started the new year with a fast, keeping my distance from certain people and trying to focus on spending time with God. By the second week, I begin to feel the need to go back to my comfort zone. Back on social media, back to poor habits and overall just not wanting to try anymore.

The need for change wasn’t just for my circumstance or for those around me, I needed true change to be done on the inside of me. God wanted to provide me with the best, He wanted me to be the best version of myself but I had to be committed.

True change requires a commitment!

It’s not about waking up and becoming this whole new person, it’s gradually making the commitment to yourself each day to try. In order to get something you’ve never had you have to be willing to do something you’ve never done.

What does that look like you ask? Great question 🙂

First…

• Pause and Breathe – Yes it seems easy, almost childish but how often do you pause to just breathe (think about it)? The work will be there, the situation will work itself out, but you won’t be able to see things as clearly as you should if you’re operating on a stressed level all day. When was the last time you just dedicated about 2-5 mins to focus on your breathing? This should be something you consider adding to your daily schedule.

• Do you really want this – People say they want to be better and be in a better place in life, but year after year continue producing the same fruit. They attach themselves to things, people, careers, assignments, and/or organizations that leads them no where closer in purpose. It’s time to examine everything you have committed yourself too and figure out if it is what you really want to be doing. If it is, wonderful!! No need to complain when things get hard, just know it’s apart of the process in purpose. Now if it’s NOT, then you need to begin to eliminate the things that are not bringing any peace or yielding fruit in your life.

• Is this what God wants – Are you in a place of honesty with yourself and God? You can lie to others and pretend to be someone or act like you’re working towards something BUT are you being honest to your true self. God created you specifically for a reason and when you operate outside His will, you are no longer living in your fullness. When you make decisions that are satisfying to you without seeking God, you pretty much declare that you are the God over your life so there’s no need for Him to lead you. Honestly, I can’t judge anyone in this area because I have been there before but I learned a little nugget before trying to take things into my own hands.  God bring will always bring peace not confusion. If there’s no peace, then I need to wait.

Now it’s time to …

• Change your attitude – As much as we would all like to think we are good and flawless, it’s a lie. Sometimes we have terrible attitudes and we can be nasty people. Quick to curse someone, bullying others, overpowering conversations, gossiping about someone else’s affairs, jealously towards others accomplishments, etc… Whether we voice it or think it, we have some negativity to us as humans. Take some time to identify the areas of your character that may not be so beautiful. And be intentional  daily to work on rising above those character flaws. It may require you not picking up certain phone calls or allowing others to speak before you do and even minding your business.

• Change your mindset – If you think it then you are it. If you do not believe you can do better then that is the life you will live. Now if you have thoughts of progression for yourself, you envision greatness for your life and you want more then you will see those results in your life. You have to fight to see more for yourself daily. It’s not just going to church on Sunday or hearing something motivational from another person’s mouth, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT FOR YOURSELF! Change the things you feed your mind, the music you are listening too, the people who are planting seeds in your mind… if it doesn’t push you in a positive direction is MUST GO!! Level up your thinking.

• Journal/Read – Pick up a pen and write what you want to see in your life (THINK BIG). Write down everything you are hoping, praying and believing God for. Pick up the Bible and see what God is saying about you. Things he has promised you. Pick up a book and commit to finishing at least a chapter. When was the last time you finished a whole book? Expand the way you have been living. Challenge yourself to produce outside of everyone/everything else. Do it for yourself. No one has to hold you accountable for this but yourself.

Lastly ….

• Are you prepared to wait – Waiting looks different for everyone. There are those that may wait days, while others wait years (everyone’s life path looks different). For true change to occur you must go through a waiting process where you are being pruned for what’s next. I say this to myself and for everyone reading this, “DO NOT RUSH OUT OF THE WAITING PROCESS” ….. I repeat,”DO NOT RUSH OUT OF THE WAITING PROCESS”! What happens in this space can sometimes be unexplainable. It will test you, try to break you, discourage you, have you contemplating if there will ever be an end BUT it also, prepares you, strengthens you, builds you, pushes you and produces a better version of you. So prepare yourself to wait but change will come.

• Always be committed to your growth – This is not just a new year thing … this is a lifetime of growing thing. You have to be committed to seeing yourself more than what you see now. You should get better with time NOT worst. No matter what your upbringing was, who said what about you, the numerous poor decision you’ve made, none of that matters once you make the decision to become a better version of yourself. Don’t stop believing in yourself and in what God has placed in you.

I truly believe you will see the goodness of God on this side of your life. There are times He may require you to be still but know that in that stillness you are in good hands.

You don’t have to wait for a season to become better or when you’re older, today is your day to start fresh… GO FOR IT!!!

IF YOU NEEDED A SIGN, THIS IS IT.

Cheers to LIVING ON PURPOSE!

Liz