Whats On Your Mind?

Lately, it has become very evident to me just how much of a battle it is to be positive on a daily basis.  With the monotony of life it becomes easy to let our thoughts take over our attitudes.  Until recently, I don't think I truly understood the connection between our thoughts and our actions.  Whatever we let enter our minds will directly have an effect on our heart, and will be evident through our actions.  Attitude is everything isn't it?  Conceptualizing a positive attitude seems quite simple when things are going great, but the minute life gets hard it is easy to allow negative, self destructive thoughts to take over your being.

I believe we have the power to take complete control over our thoughts, so that our actions and deeds can be a blessing to others.  Once you find how to break free from allowing negativity and judgement enter in, you will find it much easier to go through the day.  Attitude effects our relationships, our jobs, even our own personal struggle with ourselves.  This may sound cliche, but you are the only one who can control your outlook on life.  There may be times where life happens, and it seems unfair, and it probably is. The hope is that we can learn to live in it and learn from it, trying to make every experience a stepping stone to growth and maturity.

 The beauty of life is that we are always changing, always growing, and our attitude is the foundation to that growth.  I can choose my thoughts, I have a choice to resist negativity.  So now its your turn.  What is your choice?  What will you choose your outlook of life to be?   What you choose will ultimately determine your happiness in life.  It has nothing to do with circumstances or privilege, it has to do with the thoughts you choose to rule you.  So, choose life. Choose happiness. Choose love.

Remind Yourself

Today is a venting day.  We are all too hard on ourselves.  Hear me out.

As a society we are constantly seeking encouragement and affirmation.  We are in a consistent search for acceptance, love, and approval.  Is it natural? yes.  Will it ever cease? probably not.  But, it doesn't have to be the only thing we can depend on.  What do you love about yourself?  What are the identifiable characteristics about you?  What draws you to others?  Sometimes it is essential to provide ourselves with a reminder of what is so evident to everyone else.  Do we need the approval of others, or do we need the approval from ourselves first?

I think we miss the importance of realizing who we are and the natural potential we have.  Everyone is unique, so what is unique about you?  

At my job, we do groups with youth and we are always asking them to say positive things about themselves.  This can be very challenging.  They can rattle off all the negatives in the world, but to say " I like my smile, or I like my hair" is like pulling teeth.  The agony of searching for a positive word to say about themselves is dreadful and quite honestly emotionally exhausting, especially when I know what they are capable of and how special they really are.  Why is it this way?  Why is it so hard for us to love ourselves just the way we are?  

Today I challenge you to remind yourself of what you are good at and what you were put on this earth to do.  Are you a leader?  Are you creative?  Are you enthusiastic about life and every moment you are given?  Are you a good listener?  Do you love well?  What is it that makes you, you?  Find out because we all have a chance to prove to the world who we are and there is no more waiting.  Today is your day to start living and loving, not only others, but most importantly yourself.  

Rooted in Patience

If you know anything about me, you know that I am slightly obsessed with trees. The general idea of trees is the concept that I tend to embrace in all aspects of my life.  Having a tattoo of a tree on my foot tends to spike the conversation of, 'well what does that mean'?  I did tell myself that I would never get a tattoo that didn't have a meaning behind it.  I have learned how to explain my tattoo in a couple of sentences, even though I could spend all day discussing the true meaning of a tree.  I know you are all dying to know why trees are so special, so please let me indulge you.

If you have ever planted a tree, you know that it takes a long while before you can really stand back and be in awe of its strength and beauty.  A tree needs to grow deep, strong roots into the earth so that it can receive continual nutrients from the soil; giving the tree a strong foundation.  There will be no outward beauty until the invisible roots underground have done their job.  Finally, the tree will begin to grow, slowly but surely.  It will take years for the tree to be beautiful, but the amazing thing is that the tree continues to grow all throughout it's life.  A tree with strong roots and a solid foundation can withstand all storms and weather and continue to grow in all seasons.

Here it is, the metaphorical relation between trees and life.  The moment we have all been waiting for.  Trees are a genuine representation of who I want to be as a person.  Patience has always been a weakness for me, but lately I have been forced to be patient in all aspects of my life.  I went through a really tough season of feeling lonely, lost, and completely defeated.  As i look back on that season of life, I realize that everything I went through only strengthened my foundation, and rooted me further into the life I need to live; the life that has always been waiting for me and calling my name.  As i continue to wait for the day where I will be able to bear beautiful, noticeable fruit, I know that before that can happen I have to have a strong foundation with constant nourishment.  I have to be able to ensure that I can withstand all seasons of life, the storms, the droughts, the frigid cold, and the downpours that we all experience so that I can give back beautiful fruit to the world.

I am more excited now for life than I have ever been before.  The most important thing that I have realized is that its not about getting their fast, or jumping to the top right away.  I know that I am truly grateful that it has taken me this long, because the Lord knows that I would have lost it all.  My maturity level was not there, and I would have made so many mistakes, making it impossible for me to fully do what I know my life is meant for.  I know that day is coming, and it is is coming for you too!  Instead of constantly living in fear and wondering when you will ever be the person you know you are made to be, take each and every moment to be thankful for the person you are being created to be.  Trees do not develop overnight, and neither should we.  But when we wait, and continue to grow and learn new things we will be stronger for it.

If you are in a waiting period of life, and you feel that you are ready to take on more than every before, don't give up for your time is just around the corner.  Be grateful for this time, and learn to make the best of it.  You never know what you will learn along the way.  Just remember, a tree with a strong foundation will be forced to bear fruit.  The more rooted you are, the more fruit you will bear.  There is never a time in our lives where we are at a stand still, we are always growing. Be patient and dig deep.