A Necessary Change
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider how many of the changes we make are often accompanied by a shift in mindset.
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
– Wayne Dyer
John 15:2
God removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Food for Thought
It’s that time of the year again!
Right now, you’re one of three people: excited about the season’s transition, sad about it, or indifferent.
If you’re like me, this isn’t a favorite time of the year. I love warm weather and being outside, especially in nature. I don’t like being cold, dressing in layers and always having my feet in closed toe shoes. Yet, I decided a few years ago to stop dreading fall and winter. They’re necessary.
And who am I to turn my nose up at what’s necessary?
For me, this is a perfect time to reflect on “what’s necessary” and the thoughts we allow to consume our minds.
Take a second and ask yourself: What’s my state of mind? I want you to really think about it. Examine it. Dig through it from multiple vantage points. Ponder the goals you set for the year. Evaluate how well you’ve met them or are attempting to meet them.
What did you discover? Maybe you found some thoughts you aren’t thrilled to embrace. However, I hope you found some you can. For you to get to a place where your mind aligns with where you want to be, a change is often necessary.
How do I know this? I’ve had to do this myself!
Change begins in the mind. Think about it. Pun intended.
Let’s dig into this…
At the beginning of the year, you decided you’re going to incorporate consistent exercise into your life. Your health isn’t optimal, and your doctor has been encouraging you to begin a fitness regimen. You have kids you want to see grow up, so you say you are going to do it for them.
In January, you start strong. You’re in the gym five times a week for an hour. You’re taking your lunch to work. You’re eating so much salad you’re resembling a garden.
Everything is flowing smoothly until mid-February when you are put in charge of a major project at work. Your work hours are longer. You are exhausted by the time you leave work and it’s cold.
Exercising, as a priority, slowly fades to black. You look up and the month of May is upon you. And that energy you had in January has disappeared. You think about the results you didn’t see. You think about the progress you didn’t make. You think about the goals you didn’t reach.
You look up again and it’s October. What just happened?
Does this sound familiar? It does to me, and maybe you have been here too!
You changed your actions, but did you change your state of mind? What did you tell yourself when you hit that setback? Think about it.
Our minds are sponges. They soak up a lot. But what are you allowing it to consume? Romans 12 reminds us that there is transformation in the renewing of our minds.
Life isn’t perfect and that’s one of the beauties of it. The ups, downs, round and rounds teach us so much about ourselves. Hard times breed resiliency, determination, strength, courage, generosity, creativity, humility, passion, compassion, perseverance, kindness, grace, and love. They help to pull out the good in you if you allow them too. They also help to reveal those ugly parts that need to be eliminated, redirected, or reworked. Do not fight them; embrace them. But embrace them with a thought process that you can overcome the obstacles you are facing.
Tell yourself how awesome and amazing you are. Tell yourself you’re an overcomer. Tell yourself that you will accomplish that goal or dream. Tell yourself you will eat healthier. Tell yourself you will become a better you before the end of the year.
Then, don’t get upset when you have a setback. Remember, that’s life and it happens. It’s not perfect. But what sets you apart is how you respond to it. If you beat yourself down about it then you’ve wasted time you can’t get back. However, if you say to yourself, "You know what, self, you didn’t get it done today but you get another chance tomorrow. You can do this!", more than likely you’ll make the necessary changes needed to accomplish the goals you set your mind to.
Go forth believing in yourself. You’ve got this!
Take a few moments to write down some of the affirmations listed above, or write your own. Place those on your mirror so that you will see them first thing in the morning. Recite them to yourself as soon as you wake up and at night before you go to sleep.
Are there areas of your life that could use a shift in mindset? Take a few moments to journal or draw a picture about those aspects of your journey.
For a printable version of today's reflection Click Here!
Blessing
Dear Lord,
Your grace, mercy and forgiveness are everlasting.
We’re grateful for our relationship with you for we know that change is a byproduct of your love for us. We pray that we continue to allow ourselves to be open to growth and the shifts you have planned for us. For we know, your plan is best. May we always seek you first as we continue to journey through life.
Amen.
A little Table Talk for your table...
What are three changes you want to make in your life?
What are three small changes you can make to reach those goals?
What are some changes you’ve made, in recent years, that provide you with a feeling of accomplishment?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Ask your kiddos what comes to mind when they hear the word "change".
Ask about any changes they’ve experienced at home. In school? With friends?
How do your children feel about change? Do they think change can be good? Why or why not?
Meet This week’s writer!
Kassaundra Shanette Lockhart loves God, her family, her friends, her cat-chirren, adventure, writing, traveling, the outdoors, hammocking, concerting, laughing, reading, puzzling and food.
To hear more from Kassaundra throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
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