𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫?
“If not you, then who? If not now, when?” (Hillel) I can sadly admit that I have spent most of my young adult life, waiting for the perfect time to show up to do all the right things perfectly. As I attempted to figure out and try to accomplish what I wanted, I was stuck traveling around the same mountain of perfectionism, hoping for change. Waiting for some semblance of perfection, whether it be in yourself or your situation, to show up is futile. Ultimately, it is what we tell ourselves to remain safely in the confines of the seemingly friendly and familiar. It is about deciding if the space you currently occupy, mentally and physically, is scarier than the place you’ve envisioned yourself. You are not happy, fulfilled, or fed where you are now, so why do you stay? You know your transition to a higher plane is well overdue. So what are you waiting for?
The toll it’s taking
How do you feel about the immobility you are experiencing due to your inaction? I am here today to disrupt your thinking and counter the story you continue to tell yourself. See you thinking about, complaining, wishing it was different only contributes to your willing participation in passivity. The narratives in your head that you create to survive your existence have more of your allegiance than God’s purpose in your life. Who will be disappointed? What will people think? What will people say? What if this isn’t the right thing? Here’s the thing; you will need to get real comfortable with disappointing people and minimize the weight you give to what people say and think if you want to live the life God created you to live. Additionally, more than likely, you have settled in your mind that what you are currently in is not the right thing. So why not take a leap of faith in the direction of what’s calling you and figure out what the next best thing is?
Have you identified the toll that remaining loyal to what no longer works is taking on your life? The activities attached to this connection is draining. You avoid or want to avoid participating in these deeds. This mindset of avoidance is counterintuitive because we make time for things we want to do. Often, you have been doing these deeds for so long that you have created systems in your mind just to get it done and move on with your day. It is like saying to yourself, “Let me go-ahead to the dentist and get this tooth pulled so that I can get past this present pain.” The difference is, your continuous engagement with these ineffective involvements is like getting a tooth pulled every time you engage them. If you have ever had a tooth pulled, you know what I mean. It is not fun! So, how do you break free?
The Need to Transform
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) How you view yourself will determine how you maneuver and also the treatment you endure. I want you to consider this; most of us have been or currently in one-sided or abusive relationships. And I am not even talking about romantic relationships. I am referring to being connected to individuals who engage us to benefit themselves in some way. They need your commitment and capability to carry out their responsibilities, even if they won’t give you credit for what you bring to the table. Any time someone spends more time being demeaning and demoralizing of others than uplifting, they feel entitled and believe they are the only one who knows what they are doing. This type of person needs to devalue others to feel secure about themselves. If you do not recognize this person in your life, you will continue to subject yourself to their abuse and create unhealthy alliances.
As Romans 12:2 states, to experience transformation, you need to replace any thoughts of inadequacy and not being worthy with the belief that you are a creation of God who has greatness on the inside and a calling to carry out! God has placed inside of you ideas, answers, compassion, and empathy to show to others placed in your path. There are people you are meant to influence and impact you need to make. The daily renewing of your mind about who God made you and what you can do, counters the words and actions of small-minded individuals. Even those with positions and titles. Subsequently, transformation is an inside job. You can’t expect the person who is hurting you to heal you. You must decide to move away from what hinders you and move into what helps you evolve. How do you transport yourself to better?
On the Move!
I recently read this social media post: “God will order your steps…, but you have to move your feet.” What is causing you to feel like you are wearing cement shoes? What is weighing you down and keeping you stuck? The weight is not outside of you. It is not another person or a predicament. The heaviness you feel is the correlation between what you want and what you believe you deserve. You have to change the old mental tapes in your head that says you have to stay and be what you have always been. You must continuously rehearse that I am on a journey of becoming who I need to be, with many stops on the way. Each stop may reflect who I am in that moment, but it is not my final destination. At any time I find that I have received all I am supposed to, I can pack up what I have learned and move on to the next place. This is called growth, and it is required of all of us. You may not have seen personal expansion demonstrated in your immediate circle, but it does not mean you can’t learn to do it. Life is about progress.
Movement signifies life, while stagnation represents blockage. What is blocking you from getting to what God has for you? Fear is a formidable foe, and it can be intimidating. But faith creates space and opportunity to stand against what seems impossible. On your own, you are limited, but with God, all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) Your faith is the fuel you need to move forward.
Why not now?
What more has to happen? How much more investment do you need to make? What additional convincing do you need to confirm that it’s time to shift? You have been equipped with everything necessary to execute the assignment you have been given. And if you are vague about your assignment, clarity resides in your willingness to journey from the familiar to the unknown. Abraham did it and reaped more than his mind could imagine. (Genesis 12:1) No more wasting time waiting for the perfect that does not exist. In this season, my prayer is that you will answer the truth resonating on the inside of you and move into your next. The love, peace, and joy your soul desires is not merely for your future. It is for you now.
𝓓𝓜𝓛
