It's Not You, It's the World

Having trouble reaching your goals for 2016? Losing steam in keeping resolutions? Feel like you weren't meant to win the race set before you? My dear friend, its not you, its the World. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying our resolutions are destined to fail. I'm not dissing your goals nor negating your hopes. But until we accept the how the world works against our bright dreams we cannot understand what we are up against.

I began 2016 determined to see everyday as beautiful, to have an attitude that went beyond what was expected and find joy for everything life throws at me. I've got great intentions. I have the drive to get it done. I have armed myself with knowledge. I have the great power of God with me.  Of God in me. Why is this so hard?

Because the world is hard.  I have already had days where I have felt I am utterly failing in my goals. The kids act up. Unexpected problems occur. Medical supplies don't arrive on time. I eat a million pieces of cake. I'm too tired to write. 

I fail. The day ends in a bleak summary of painful unrealized dreams.

I was sharing this with one of my friends and she asked me what was the first thing I did each day.

Coffee. Feed kids. Attempt a devotional. Clean house. 

My friend looked at me and said, "The world is going to come at you full of its trials and beauty. The only thing we can change is how we meet the world--with how we begin the day."

Oh. Yeah. I knew that. Or did I? I know that my best days, no matter what happens in those days, are the days where I manage to have quiet prayer and devotions before Micaela wakes up needing to be fed and changed, before Adela tumbles out of bed demanding hugs, and before I need to get breakfast on the table so my husband can leave the house with the fuel he needs to work. 

But I have been skimping on this time. I want coffee first. And I want just five more minutes of sleep. No, fifteen, thirty minutes. Often I wake up and just go, go, go. It is nap time before I manage a quiet conversation with God and by then I'm disheartened and exhausted.

How we face the world each day is very key to any goal we have. I once read that people who began their day with exercise were more likely to make healthy choices the rest of the day. Dieticians are quick to confirm that a healthy breakfast will give you a better chance at sticking to a nutricious diet. So, it makes sense, doesn't it, that if we want to be emotionally healthy we should begin the day with something that sets a stage of peace and optimismo.

Because the world is going to come at us, ready or not. 

​How are you greeting the world each day?

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 Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:8