This is the first chapter of Life Detox. How we can cleanse, mind, body, and soul. Sometimes it’s just time to rip off the bandaid and be done with it! Choose to begin anew!
Chapter 1
Why
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”—Michael Jordan
Perfection is not the goal; persistence is our focus.
You’ve all heard you need to find your way. True but, in this scenario, the why needs to be you’re sick-and-tired-of-being-sick-and-tired! Enough is enough. Well, I can tell you that over a year ago, that is where I found myself.
(Get a pad of paper to do some writing) To make any lasting change, grab the paper!
Here are some questions you need to ask yourself:
- Is your life where you hoped it would be right now?
- Are you depressed most of the time?
- Are you merely going through the paces of daily life with no real direction, work, go home, that’s about all?
- Are you unhappy? Why?
- If money, time, education, depression were not the problem. What would fulfill your life?
Please take the time to put some real thought into the questions. If you follow along this way, we can save you a great deal of time.
You must get very clear on what you would like to see your life become. One of the biggest epiphanies I’ve experienced don’t worry about the HOW, set your sail to the horizon of where you want your life.
Imagine getting on a boat for a long journey. You set sail, and off you go. Along the way, you most assuredly will face rough seas. When you begin the rough journey seas, severe weather is not part of the equation when you decided to set sail.
The end destination is more important than how we get there! If you had a chance to visit some beautiful faraway island, once in a lifetime opportunity. Would you not go because you MIGHT run into bad weather? Did you not go because you thought the how was more difficult — focusing on the “what if’s” instead of the outcome?
Logic would suggest you have a plan that includes how. So how do you plot this course change in life without knowing how you’re going to traverse the course to a destination. When you set out on any journey let’s say a storm comes up, do you sail directly through it? No, you may have to recalibrate a new route.
My point is you don’t know all the “how’s” that will change your course unexpectedly. However, if you worry yourself before you set sail, you’ll stifle any chance of real change!
I can hear you! “How do you not worry about how?” These are bullet points that will explain:
- Have a clear definition of the result. Know what you want clearly!
- Learn to meditate on the result you desire, see it in your mind’s eye. Feel in every part of your being what it would feel like to have achieved that which you want most.
- Have unwavering faith it will happen. A prayer might sound like “God you know what I desire in my heart, I have faith you will provide everything I need for that, what you put in my heart to achieve. I don’t know how we will do this; I trust you have the way.
- Pray for wisdom and guidance.
- Set realistic expectations. Reach to be sure.
How to turn from wishful thinking to ACTION:
- What is one step you can take right now to begin your journey? Forget the words significant steps, little steps. Every step forward creates forward momentum.
- Learn the difference between activity vs. productivity.
- Learn to plan your day for production — set reminders for tasks that produce results. Stay on task!
- Take time to research and put into action what you learn to achieve your desire. Fill yourself as though you’re filling a pitcher with knowledge.
- When self-doubt and the like hit your noodle, remember this, whatever negative thoughts you’re having it’s temporary. Work through it even when you think you cannot.
The how will come to you. Take steps every day, and you will begin to gain momentum.
“When you begin to worry, go find something to do. Get busy being a blessing to someone; do something fruitful. Talking about your problem or sitting alone, thinking about it does no good! It serves only to make you miserable. Above all else, remember that worrying is useless. Worrying will not solve your problem.”–Joyce Meyer
A struggle for everyone. When everything in your life is overwhelmingly worrisome. So how do we get through that?
When you begin to realize that no matter what you’re going through in life, it’s temporary. If you get flustered stifling any sort of progress the situation stalls or gets worse.
Begin to look at trials and tribulations as a coaching exercise. Learn to realize God is coaching you to become a world-class you! What do coaches do? They train you to go beyond what you believe you can do. Stretch yourself beyond your limiting beliefs.
Life is changing for me. I don’t look at difficulties as a problem, but a learning experience is preparing me to handle anything life can throw at me. Yes, at times, you can feel alone, lost, and defeated. At this moment I think of myself as running dead last in a race. I can choose to fail, or I can run my heart out and win.
God is merely working all of us out. He is training us to handle anything the enemy can throw to disrupt our life. Why can’t God fix my life? He is trying by letting you work through the pain to strengthen your resolve.
It hurts I can’t do it! God never puts more on our plate than we can handle. Hard to understand, but here is the skinny. Get through this because on the other side of pain is your destiny. Bigger and brighter than you can imagine.
Change the way you look at problems. They’re not happening at you they’re happing for you!
Here are some exercises you can do to change your state-of-mind: Crank up some music that gets you dancing. Music can immediately improve your state and put a smile on your face.
- Breathe. Take 60 seconds or so and breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, beautiful and relaxing.
- Pray — nothing like a good prayer. You can hand God the garbage he is ready to be a blessing to you and carry it out.
- Meditate. Find the right place to meditate and relax your mind and body.
Take a walk. Get outdoors and walk to help relieve muscle stress. Throw on some headphones and good music. Change your state-of-mind, and you will change your life.
Time outdoors can be incredibly cathartic to the soul. Taking in nature, walking by a river, standing on the beach, anywhere that God has touched the landscape. You can look up and happily say to God, “show off.” Smiling in awe of the world around you.
When you can take these moments to find clarity in your head, good thoughts, new ideas, and fresh perspectives will become the norm.
One thing that I did put up a bird-feeder. Birds are incredibly funny and beautiful to watch. I have found myself sitting for long periods just enjoying my birds and clearing my head when I’m not trying — just enjoying the moment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.