Shifting

Shifting

I’ve had to do a lot of evaluating in my life. 

I’m one of those people that doesn’t want to take anything for granted and I don’t like to make assumptions that I’ll have time to do the things that are on my heart or even be able to, but like most people I sometimes live that way. I make assumptions that I will be able to do things later, that things will work out the way I plan and I will have everything I want. It’s probably healthy to have a measure of hope in most areas of your life. If you didn’t you’d probably be a very negative person and maybe not ambitious about anything. But I can see how at times these assumptions can also prevent a person from making real steps forward into the things that they want. 

Unlike most children and youth I was always aware of my mortality to some degree. Maybe it’s because I grew up going to church where I was always faced with decisions about my eternity and thought often about death. When you’re young you don’t think about getting hurt or dying. I’ve always thought about what I’d like to have finished at the end of my life and what would be important to me. In my adult years I’ve watched people of every age group pass away. I’ve seen people from every age group struggle with health issues.  

But the truth is even if we live with the reality that we are neither guaranteed time nor clear passage to our goals, and we are most diligent in pressing toward our dreams it doesn’t mean we will have an opportunity to achieve our desires within the timeline that we would like. 

I know some of us can be hard on ourselves. We want to skip steps and seasons but  we need to recognize the reality of those stages and seasons. There are times we can do things and there are times we just can’t. Time commitments, family issues and health are just a few barriers. That’s when setting and keeping goals visible will remind you of the outcomes you desire.

This isn’t about being obsessed with the goals, it’s just a reminder of where you hope to go. It’s your plan for getting there. Creating a clear map can take you there slowly and surely even in the midst of chaos.

And when you are in chaos you need to take things in stride.

Take time to continue to develop yourself. Reevaluate what brings you joy and fulfillment.

What drains you? What energizes you?

Be true to where you are right now. What headspace are you in? Do you need rest? Counseling? Do you need motivation?

Maybe you need to shift from one area of focus to another. Sometimes in order to move into the new we have to say goodbye to the old and it’s not always easy to discern when it’s time. Try shifting your focus on what you can accomplish and away from what you need to leave behind. Accepting limitations is never easy but it’s necessary in order to put your best effort where it belongs. You need to stay honest with yourself and make sure you are living in alignment to your beliefs.

What are you sensing that you need to shift right now?