I’ve gotten comfortable. I have had this comfortable little routine for a while now and while I love a routine and I certainly love being comfortable, none of this challenged me. I found myself slogging a bit through life and frankly I was getting lazy, which is easy to do since my preference in life is to be comfortable.
I felt the pull to be more. I felt the God was telling me to be more, and in fact He was knocking me upside the head to better use the gifts He was kind enough to give me. A few decisions had to be made job wise that pulled me in a direction I had been resisting. Seriously resisting. But, the decision having been made brought peace, because it was best for my family at this point. Painful for me but good for them. My husband, realizing it was painful but seeing that what would bring me the most peace was what was best for my family, spent a lot of time gently encouraging a decision. It was heart burning but right for me.
This only matters in terms of this discussion because these thoughts on what the best use of my time and talents (whatever ones I may possess) lead directly to thoughts beyond career to home and family. Was I putting my best foot forward for them? Was I using my time in a way that would ultimately bless our family and bring us closer to God and each other?
Not always and that knowledge pained me.
My friend Jennifer Mackintosh , who has a beautiful blog which I always find inspiring, has used the phrase “work wholeheartedly” repeatedly in her writing. I decided that I should adopt that as my motto (unlike the word FINISH which the word generator thingie assigned me this year) and strive to better serve He who created me and those whom I love with all my heart.
Toward that end I’ve read a few books. When you’re a writer (because that is how you think and process – it wasn’t really a career decision), reading comes as naturally as breathing and unlike many in these more visual times, I seek information from books rather than videos. I do a fair share of YouTube when I need to (it’s how we fix most of our appliance problems) and I enjoy a good podcast (I’ll link a few favorites down below), but books are my go-to for spiritual and personal growth. Ancient technology they may be but so is the wheel and we still use them!
The Miracle Morning (a/f link, thank you) was a little new agey for me but the premise was excellent. Get up early and get some personal development in before the day begins. For me this means a renewed commitment to prayer, reading and writing. It’s been life changing but it’s still new. It takes a few weeks for a habit to form so I’m still in the baby stages.
Manage your Day to Day was another good boost for my new quest to pull myself out of my rut. None of the advice is particularly earth shattering but it’s well presented and the examples of successful people using the common sense practices is inspiring. Sometimes it’s just good to hear how other people plan their day and what are the fruits of those practices. I listened to this one on a long car ride (it’s only a three hour audiobook) but thought well enough of it to take it out of the library to re-read and make some notes. It’s one I may listen to again should I need a refresh.
Another step out of my comfort zone was to purchase The Content Planner (another a/f link). A little out of my zone because it represented a financial commitment to do what I’ve been wanting to do for a while which is to spruce up this blog and post more often. Not so much out of my comfort zone because I love pretty planners and shopping ;). More on this in a few days.
I hope that my reset here inspires you to find out what God is calling you to in 2019. I’m hoping that you will join me in sharing your journey and I appreciate any and all advice toward content you’d like to see or really, anything. Let’s work together toward the best year for faith and family!
Podcasts I love
(these are my go-tos, I’d love to hear yours)
Girlfriends (Danielle Bean, whom I think is awesome)
Amongst Women (Pat Gohn, also awesome)
Fictional (takes classic lit and retells, it’s lighthearted)
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