Message! Breaking News! News alert! Whatever we want to call it, we need to get to moving. As the new year is approaching us this should cause for a time of reflection. Each year around this time I love to look back over the year and reflect. I usually ask myself questions such as:
Did I meet the goals I set?
Have I grown in my walk with God?
Have I grown as a person?
Am I in a better place mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically?
Did I give my best this year?
It’s easy to say in our minds that this year is going to be our year. We believe it. We write down our goals, resolutions, what we need to let go of, the areas we need to focus in on and then we go after them. Usually the chase, the drive and the ambition last for a few months or so, then we are right back to old habits. I’m sure it is not intentional on our part to turn back to old habits but they happen. Life happens. We get busy, overwhelmed, challenged and instead of stepping up to life we tend to back down.
Here is what I want to go out on the limb and say: When it comes to making a change in life and breaking bad/old habits let’s not try to do everything at once. I believe this is where the problem lies. We try to make every change at once, we try to work on every weakness we have at the same time, and we try to put all of our energy into too many things at one time. This is not a good set up for success. I’ve been there. In the past two years I’ve tried to do at least 4 to 5 things at once. Sometimes I make myself to believe the more I do the more productive I am. Boy, have I learned!
Can we be productive doing more than one thing at once? Sure, we can. Here’s the thing. Mentally and emotionally it gets exhausting. As time goes on being productive becomes hard to keep up with. What you will come to find out is you won’t have time for breaks, hanging out with people who mean the world to you and you will not have a lot of time for yourself.
(Here is a side note: Some seasons in life you will have to grind like crazy. Working several jobs, school and being involved in multiple things. Don’t do it forever! Know when it is time to take a break and cut back.)
Here’s a suggestion. Focus your energy, time and talents towards one or two things. If you can work one job, work one job and become great at what you do. Focus on your strengths, develop them, live in them and celebrate them. When it comes time to working on your weaknesses, work on them one a time. Study shows that it takes 21 days to break a bad habit and 21 days to create a new one. Go 21 days at a time to break your bad habits and reverse your bad habits with new good habits.
Remain consistent in your day to day walk. Work towards making your dreams become a reality. Forgive the person you need to forgive. Let go of the hurt and pain you need to let go of. Strengthen your relationship with God. Work towards something. There is no more time for being passive. Let’s make 2015 a great year! It all starts with you!
Josh Samarco 