The year is dwindling. Ten months ago, you may have written a resolution or goal list. Even if you didn't, I'll bet you had aspirations this year. Sometimes I think these lists serve only to distract me from what I really want--to live an authentic life.
If I'm focused solely on writing, exercising, parenting, saving, cleaning, or one of the other areas I'm trying to whip into shape, I'm not focused on being me. That's not to say the items aren't important, but they can be used as a way to avoid contemplating what I really want.
Sitting in a quiet room and delving into your deepest wishes can be frightening. What if you learn you want something different from what you have? What if the dreams you've been chasing no longer excite you? What if you realize your life is heading 100mph to the wrong destination?
On the flip side, what if you're racing on a road to nowhere?
When, in a panic, we put all of our energy into improving only certain sections of our life, we miss the big picture. It's like putting mittens and socks on a naked body in the throes of hypothermia. The body needs a blanket or coat to protect its core.
To get off a personal plateau, we have to focus on what is important to us, and to do that, we have to get quiet, not just once a year, but as often as necessary.
Have you ever focused on improving one area of your life to avoid dealing with a personal issue?
The lovely Barbara Parentini is interviewing me on her uplifting blog, Gifts by Grace. If you have a chance, get acquainted with Barbara's blog and stop by to say "hi."
Join me on Wednesday when we'll discuss financial plateaus.
I do this all the time, and I have to seriously give myself a slap in the face to knock myself out of it. I think it's just an instinctual defense mechanism.
ReplyDeleteYes! This has happened to me. There was a point in my life when I was chasing after publication - but for all the wrong reasons. Once I was on the right path, everything changed for me.
ReplyDeleteWhere did this year go? Aaaaargh! How does that happen??? :O)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely have. Addicted to running for over ten years. What was I running from?
ReplyDeleteFound out.
And God met me at every step and then He slowed me down.
~ Wendy
When I came upon a fork in the road a few years,back. I took the one where my forgotten dreams were. I am not sorry.
ReplyDeleteCool post, Jill. A great reminder for me to look at the complete picture. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, you need to get out of my head.
ReplyDeleteI do this ALL The Time!
I do this. Another thing I do is spend more time setting goals than actually working on them.
ReplyDeleteyes yes yes! i think you hit a big nail on its head :) I do it. I think sometimes if i excel at something..I will feel like I am "right". However, that can be exhausting. So, when I start to overwhelm myself...and fear maybe I am focused in the wrong direction..that's when I know..I need a morning..or a moment..or a drive...to let God speak to my heart and settle those thoughts :)
ReplyDeleteOh fooey! That reminds me it's time to get out the dreaded list and see if I've managed to knock anything off of it this year. I haven't done very well keeping track of those goals and my progress this year.
ReplyDelete: )
Happy Monday! (Okay, maybe the exclamation point wasn't necessary. It IS Monday after all. :)
ReplyDeleteJessica: A defense mechanism! Bingo! Exactly!
Julie: Good point. The destination might be right, but our motives might be wrong.
Diane: I know!! *cringing*
Wendy: I like how you put that--addicted to running. Nice!
Em: Oh, I like the idea of finding a path to our forgotten dreams. So beautiful.
Paul: Complete picture! Sometimes I think I'm looking out of one pane and that's it!
Erica: You know we're long lost sisters, right? :)
Susan M: Right on! I do the same!!
Amber J: Happens to me all the time!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Niki: Well, one thing you can mark off is continuing great posting on your blog! I always enjoy stopping by!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
I've had a life interruption recently. I pick a word every year and I think next year will be authenticity--the idea brewed from your post. Thanks Jill.
ReplyDeleteYes, I done this before, probably too many times. I'm very bad at getting caught up in a specific goal and devoting so much time to it, I neglect other things. Still trying to find that balance but I think I'm getting better :)
ReplyDeleteI've definitely done this before! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I will get so focused on achieving a particular goal that one day, I wake up and BAM, I rebel. For example, healthy eating and exercising. When I limit what I eat to such an extend that, yes, I'm losing weight, but boy, am I miserable, then I go on a binge eating attack. Then I feel guilty. I'm trying to come up with a happy medium!
ReplyDeleteLynn: Sorry about the life interruption. I'm glad you're rallying.
ReplyDeleteCindy: I do that too. It's hard not to!
Kristen: No problem!
Melissa: It's an endless cycle, isn't it? Work on improving, fall off the wagon, bring on the guilt. No fun!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Jill:
ReplyDeleteI have had personal plateaus since June. Take a piece of paper and draw a dashed line (- - - - -) across it. Now connect those lines. When you first drew the dashes, that' how I see other people's lives. They get breathers between personal crises. After you connect the dashes, you get a straight line, with no let up. That's how I sometime view my life. Conflict never ending.
I am ready for smooth sailing and dull and boring.
Sometimes I focus on one thing to avoid something else and then other times, I just settle into quietness and try to analyze everything and what direction it is going. It isn't always pleasant to realize when I got off the right track and wasn't valueing or treating something as I should.
ReplyDeleteQuiet Spirit: Ouch. I'm sorry you've had such a rough year. Praying for you to have some breathing time and nice, quiet dullness. :)
ReplyDeleteAmy: Yes, that's it exactly. It's not fun to realize I've been focused on the wrong thing!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hi Jill -
ReplyDeleteAwhile back, I got involved in a business to help out a friend. Big mistake. It may have been what she was supposed to be doing, but it wasn't for me.
The best way for me to stay grounded is time in prayer, journaling, and the Word before my day gets started. I get more accomplished, and I'm a lot happier in the long run.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I don't think I do that. What I do is plan an improvement and be less than consistent. I need help being consistent. Help!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I actually follow through with something and then I feel great. I'm happy to say that these things are usually the important ones.
Did you take this post from my life? Dang, you're good. :)
ReplyDeleteI do way too much of this. And I always say I won't do it anymore. Every year is another repeat.
And how'd it get to be Christmas? Waaahaaaaa, no shopping done yet.
Jill, you have such a beautiful way of putting things into perspective. Yes, I do this sometimes. And then I take a moment, step back, and appreciate all the blessings in my life. Seriously, if I never got published, or agented, or whatever, I'd still be so very blessed. The rest is icing on the already delicious cake.
ReplyDelete