Yes, indeed, 2016 is here! I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. Neither am I a fan of those dated old new year’s catchphrases like “A New Year a New You”. To me, they seem like eating an air sandwich with a side of cotton candy – lots of texture, but little nutrition or substance. I do believe in being intentional about moving in a positive direction to co-create a new reality. For me, that means reflecting on a few key things to help propel me in a different direction. I believe every human being is designed with an internal compass to help guide and steer them in the direction of God’s highest will for their lives. Listening to that internal voice by tuning into the powerful messages being delivered to our spirit man will help us grow beyond our point of discomfort.
Here are five key things to remember as you venture into this new year:
1) Look back at the lessons. Remember those hard places you have to come through in 2015? The breakdown of a relationship, job loss or major illness? The beautiful lessons contained in those events may have been hidden while you were going through the pain. Hindsight is usually 20/20, so now your ability to find the lesson or message contained in the storm should be a little clearer. Do an internal review, get out your journal and jot down some key points. Where was your responsibility? How much of that responsibility did you try to shift onto others? Have you changed your behavior as a result of the life lesson or are you still operating in a place of disobedience?
2) Give credit where it is due. What did you do right last year? Was there an area where you exceeded your own expectations or pushed through the pain to create a major breakthrough? Was there a point where you were able to let go and allow God to take over? Celebrate those victories and bask in the glow of your victories. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself a pat on the back for a job well done and a victory won!
3) Take your foot off the brake. Often when we find ourselves stick in a pattern of negative behavior, it is because we have suddenly become fearful and unable to move forward. Stop. Take a deep breath and ask yourself where the fear is coming from and who or what is attached to the fear. If it is a person, surrender them to God and ask for His help in getting past the fear of man so that you can gain the momentum needed to continue your forward movement. If you are the person standing in your own way, write down the ways you continue to block your own growth and pray about those blockages. When you are ready to confront them, the Holy Spirit can guide you into the direction of breakthrough.
4) Give and it shall be given. The worst thing you can do during a time of transition is to stop the flow of giving. The spiritual principle of reciprocity allows the flow of good things to come in as you open your heart and hands toward others. If you dare allow yourself to become wildly unselfish in your efforts to be a blessing to someone else, you can be sure that God will respond in kind. Don’t think it is all about material giving either. I am also referring to the gift of patience, forgiveness, mercy and kindness.
5) Go easy. If you’re a Type A personality, this is going to sound really counterintuitive to you, but for you easygoing types this will be a piece of cake. Cut yourself some slack this year and allow the veil of perfection to drop a little bit. People who tend to be perfectionists are often filled with shame when they don’t perform up to the invisible standards being imposed by the invisible “they”. There is only one Invisible being we should be concerned with pleasing and that is God himself. He is our maker, creator and the giver of all gifts, talents and abilities. If we perform for Him, we never need to worry about disappointing Him. He sees us as perfectly beautiful and all His. Our mistakes, mishaps and decisions will always be measured by the highest standard of love in God’s eyes. He is not like human beings and therefore we don’t have to worry about the critical, judgmental measuring stick being leveled against us. His plans are for our good, therefore he takes everything we do or fail to do and makes it work for our good.
Have a wonderfully blessed 2016 as you move toward the authentic spiritual expression of who you were born to be!
