Be open to making changes in your life
"I am making everything new."
- Revelation 21:5 (NIV)
When moving forward, God often requires us to make some adjustments. There's an old saying that goes something like this: If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting the same results.
So if you're looking to move forward, try pondering a few new moves. Here's a few suggestions.
Sometimes it's good to take a peek at what's behind us and observe our past mistakes and successes for the sake of applying some wisdom so we can move forward to be our best.
Never be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes people are afraid to ask for help because they may be a burden to someone else. Being full of pride can be a deterrent to reaching out to another for aid. It's sad to think that because of these reasons, someone's needs go unmet.
When Moses was weak and tired, he asked two of his closest companions to help hold his hands up, so they could win the battle. Asking for help benefits the helper as well, because God blesses us when we help one another.
What can you do when plan A fails? You can move on to plan B. Plan A was just a process of elimination. Many plan A's I've experienced in my life have failed and led me to a new plan that worked out much better over time.
God is using his plan to construct our lives for good. His plan is not the secondary, fallback plan, even though plan B feels like that, but the primary one.
Our losses can lead us to a new normal. Whenever change comes, we adjust. When putting back together the pieces of our lives, we can have difficulty moving forward because we want everything to stay the same as it used to be. We must understand changes bring a new normal, which is a day-to-day process.
Oftentimes, we think our adjustment should be quick or easy. Most times it's anything but that. But, over time, we can become comfortable in our new place.
When life changes come, start your adjustment with simple things. Keep a daily routine. Eat, rest, get some exercise, even if it's just a short walk. Activity fights depression.
Try something new. Start going to church, try a community club, volunteer to help someone else and make some new friends. Keep a journal of your prayers and your feelings. Watch how they change over time.
Learning a new normal means a change in lifestyle, and sometimes just our attitude. But, as we adjust and grow, we become richer for the experience.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413. Annettee is available to speak at your group, business or be a personal coach. Visit www.annetteebudzban.com.