August is just about gone… 2017 is not far behind
2017 is 2/3 gone. Can you believe it?
I must admit, I’m happy to park this year in my past. It has been a rough one.
That said, I’m entering this last quarter of the year focused on newness.
First, I tried a new look (what cha think???)
I’m awakening my soul daily with a powerful new devotional and diversifying my reading with a goooood piece of fiction.
I’ve amped up my skincare, added teeth whitening to my daily dental care, super greens to my daily eating, and increased the frequency and intensity of exercise to get me to a shiny new fitness goal.
August is the month of new beginnings. The kids returned to school and I’m returning to myself with a new-ish attitude.
One of my friends suggested the new look brought with it a new attitude. (LOL).
I think the order is reversed. The new attitude prompted me to try the new look.
Order can be important.
What we think influences what we do.
AND what we do influences how we feel – which influences what we do.
It is a cycle that works when we start in the right place and work it.
Things go awry when we start not with Think or Do, but with Feel.
When we feel motivated – we hit things hard and get stuff done.
But when that feeling fades, when motivation is gone – pushed out by stress, or sadness, or frustration, or (you name the funky feeling) – our thoughts and actions follow.
When we feel low or slow, we tend to stop and get stuck where we are – or even worse we take action to pick up behaviors that placate the feeling while taking us further from plan or goal.
Do you need ‘newness’ in some area of your life, but don’t feel up to doing anything new?
I totally understand. Here’s the encouragement – don’t start with your feeling.
Renew your mind.
Read scripture and resources related to the change you want to make. Feed on that to starve deflating feelings.
Plan action.
Pray for direction and lay out the steps you can take to bring the new you want into your life. Make plans that are practical and actionable. Count the costs. Rally resources. Schedule time in your calendar (in ink).
Do it.
Pray and do.
123 days remain in 2017. What can you do in this time to be better when 2018 rolls around?
I’d love to hear your goals and plans.
You’ve got this.