Do you realize we are already more than half way through this month? Another week of this year has just flown by; 33 down, just 19 more to go.
And what a week it was. We’ll move ahead by stepping back to review, on this edition of “Becoming Today”.
Monday began a new week and for me I had a whole lot of questions as we prepared to focus forward, let’s now rewind to recall “The Next Step”.
What’s your next step?
Asking is the easy part. At times it’s slightly more difficult to recognize your answer.
The really hard part is after accepting it – you need to take that next step.
Putting it into action involves belief, courage, determination, faith, forbearance, perseverance and steadfast movements.
Then once you align all that then it’s time to take the actions of Lovingly Detaching and doing so with Gratitude.
While the essence of “Becoming” involves enlarging our circle, reaching out to one another and aiding those we can, the reality is there are times in life we must detach ourselves from certain people, places, things and even ideas. Now this does not have to be harsh and should not be done cruelly.
Learning to love while at times disengaging from being reactionary allows us not only to protect ourselves but helps foster the emotional and at times physical health of the others involved.
We all must deal with our own consequences, the result of our actions, attitudes, beliefs and choices. So why not make it so we are celebrating the outcomes rather than trying to repair, overcome or run away from?
If you are recognizing the need to put some distance between you and someone or something, here are some questions for you to ponder:
Is this healthy for me?
Can I accept the outcome of my decision?
What is truly my motivation?
Do I have other options?
Is this a wise choice?
Self examination of your own motives and needs are essential in developing and sharing compassion along with lovingly detaching.
The process also aids in empowering your own personal freedom and improving your true sense of self.
Letting go, releasing, detaching, whichever term you feel more comfortable with all require that they be done so lovingly.
When we do so we are rewarded not only in our relationships but also in our individual personal growth, being better able to embrace inner peace, which is beneficial across all areas of our lives.
It boosts our personal power, teaches us to be more resilient and allows for us to better encourage others while maintaining healthy boundaries that aid our personal freedom and acceptance of responsibility for ourselves.
We are only responsible and can only be held accountable for our own thoughts, emotions, decisions and resulting actions. The consequences of the choices of others ultimately are not ours. Becoming one’s emotional caretaker is not healthy for either person when it is based upon a false belief that you can control their pain.
Then remember to give thanks, as it is something that benefits us and all those we encounter in infinite ways. To live with giving thanks begins by being grateful.
Giving thanks allows us to see the good in everything and everyone. To cherish beauty, kindness, love, and joy.
I am constantly giving gratitude for all things including the lessons we sometimes don’t want or think we need.
Instead of resisting help, learn to surrender to it. In learning how to accept Help we are Becoming able to live a life with gratitude. That simple act of true humility is pleasing to God. Accepting of child-like trust, to receive without the burdens of judgment shows we are evolving.
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.“ (Matthew 18:3-4 BSB)
Always be grateful.
Tuesday we continued taking a few steps into the future as we considered what’s “Around The Corner”.
We’ll pick up our discussion now at the intersection of Gratitude and Generosity. We’ve come to the place along our shared path of when it’s time to discuss how to make yourself open and available to become a “giver”.
Instead of resisting help, we must learn to surrender to it. In learning how to accept Help we are “Becoming” able to live a life with gratitude.
Even for those with this knowledge and many who not only know but have understood it as a belief, still accepting help can be uncomfortable. However remember there is no shame in asking for help nor freely accepting it. Giving and receiving are an integral part of life.
Here are some tips to assist you in Becoming accepting of help from others.
Examine your beliefs about receiving
Allow yourself to be vulnerable
Feel the love
Be grateful
Don’t take away another’s blessing. Afford others an opportunity to give.
Then allow yourself the power to:
Pay it forward
Not only do we all experience the need for assistance along the way we are also granted the opportunity to be a blessing to be of service and to ourselves help another.
Wednesday we resumed our ongoing extended odyssey that results in a mid week search and rescue mission for wisdom.
“Are You Willing” was our combined study of the Book of Proverbs, chapter 20.
So if you have a pen, pencil, stylus or however you electronically take notes, let’s highlight verse 10 and do as it instructs:
“Mark it down: God hates it when you demonstrate a double standard—one for “them” and one for “you.”
I hope you made note of this because there is much good advice contained here. Double standards do nobody any good.
Whether you are holding yourself above another or allowing poor behaviors, by making excuses for those you see as lesser, these double standards don’t help you or the other person.
If you’re holding yourself above, then you’re guilty of pride and need to do some work on humbling yourself.
If you’re justifying inappropriate conduct, then you are not only not being of service to the individual, you’re subjecting yourself to their continuing to demean or even be abusive towards you. Enabling such behaviors is a lose-lose situation.
I also wanted to revisit one of the verses we took a lighthearted look at early. Just like the Scriptures I want to repeat verse 24 again, because it truly is important.
“It is the Lord who directs your life, for each step you take is ordained by God to bring you closer to your destiny.So much of your life, then, remains a mystery!”
Simplifying a bit, when you allow the Lord to direct your steps, you really don ‘t need to know what may happen next. Faith, our belief in the unseen proves for us that with God all things always end in ‘all is well’… well as long as we trust Him.
I shared some thoughts on this in an earlier post, “No Need To”.
It really is true, sometimes you really do not need to know.
On our shared path of “Becoming Today”, we all must deal with our own consequences, the result of our actions, decisions, attitudes and beliefs. So why not make it so we are celebrating the outcomes rather than trying to repair, overcome or run away from?
As we lovingly detach from things that no longer serve us, among those is the need to know everything. There really is no need to understand all that we encounter and endure.
Thursday I was “Persuaded?” to look at the day through a musical interlude. This morning has been starting somewhat musically for me and I hope it will remain harmonious all day for each of us.
How am I being persuaded to feel this way?
Glad you asked, it’s a new vibration we’ll explore on this edition of “Becoming Today”.
I woke just before sunrise, externally I could hear birds chirping as they gathered at the feeders, however inside my head and I suspect my heart I could hear another tune.
It filled me with an awesome feeling of the promise this day could hold.
Realizing that every moment has the potential for miracles, I want to share this with you today.
So if you would, look over yonder.
What do you see?
Maybe so, however I was hoping for you to look beyond that and notice that the sun is a-rising, most definitely.
Certainly tangible evidence that a new day is coming… ooh, …ooh and there’s so much more.
Can’t you see? Yes look, see what I feel, people are changing.
Ain’t it beautiful?
So I have been having some fun today with the lyrics of a classic song by Tommy James and the Shondells. Perhaps some figured that out, though I intentionally omitted the chorus, during our discussion.
I also recognize that there are many others joining us here along our shared path, who were not born yet in 1969. That’s when the song, “Crystal Blue Persuasion”, charted as high as number two on the Billboard Charts.
Hmmm … maybe some of you were even conceived during it? Anyway, that’s a question you can ask your mother if you really care to know.
During a time, not all that unlike our current seasons of life, when there were concerns voiced and raised about things like civil rights, saving the environment, gay liberation and feminism – a few different expressions however all these issues we still debate today.
Tommy James was not afraid to embrace what was then called the ‘counterculture’ and sing of the truths of peace and good brotherhood, though many with closed minds heard a song they thought was about drugs.
It was not. Something Tommy has testified about many times over the years, it was about being a Jesus follower.
He didn’t limit himself to just one offering either. While a little “Hanky, Panky” got him to the place where he could share his heart, he also overcame working for a record label that was a front for the Genovese crime family.
Proving no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in there is always a way to share the truth and be focused upon who you are “Becoming Today”.
Yesterday During “It”, our conversation turned to the fact that no matter what it is you may currently be going through, you can do so in a state of peace in the midst of whatever you may be enduring.
If you feel you may be lacking in this area of self-empowerment, fear not, you are not alone. No one is born this way, we all have fears, doubts and insecurities. Plus all of us have the ability to overcome any lack. None of us are perfect, so let’s empower ourselves by receiving peace and calm by first accepting who we really can be “Becoming”.
Perhaps one of your affirmations is something along the lines of, “I am deserving of being treated with compassion, dignity and respect”.
Remember to first practice giving those things to yourself and receiving them gratefully with grace. Do this by empowering your self esteem.
Obviously I hope you are making the choices to improve or strengthen your positive self esteem. We know that negative self-esteem can impact every aspect of your life, including relationships, jobs and your health.The good news is you can correct your false views of yourself.
Living with the peace of God is truly virtuous. Sharing it with others enables more favor in our lives and boosts the quality of life for all we encounter.
One of the best parts of gaining the peace of God is that it involves so little effort.
Seek, ask and receive.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
It really can be that easy, as long as you are willing. I’m hopeful and praying that it will be for you as I know it is for me.
“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Proverbs 16:7
Find your light of peace, Focus it on your path. Then be brave enough to come Monday, join us for our next edition of “Becoming Today”.
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 