“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” Proverbs 4:7

WE ARE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE PEOPLe

I don’t know about you guys but 2018 was one of the WORST and BEST years of my life.  I’m preparing to walk into the New Year feeling and looking like new money!

As we prepare for this shift in years, I wanted to take a moment to really reflect on what this year has brought us. With there being about 2 days remaining, what has 2018 taught you? What patterns and behaviors have been brought to the forefront? What takeaways did you have from the good and bad experiences you faced? What has changed? 

Today, I want to not only share the things that I have learned this year but also how I have applied them to my life and give encouragement on how you can too! The more we reflect on both the small and large lessons of life, we begin to get to know ourselves a lot better. 

Let’s Get Into It! 

Your past CANNOT go with you into your new season.

As we pack our bags to walk into new seasons and new opportunities, one thing we definitely do is repackage our baggage from the past as well. How long are you going to carry that issue from 2012? From 2009? When are you going to let that settle? Aim to turn those mistakes into learned lessons. During this year, I experienced a true sense of surrederance and freedom as I chose to not try to “fix myself” and let God handle it all. Check it out here!

The person holding you back is you; the OLD, COMPLACENT you.

The “old” you will consistently fight the “new” you like hell! It will allow you to think you aren’t strong, capable or qualified to take that next step. There were times where I was so fearful about not being ready for an opportunity. Feeling overlooked, under qualified and unprepared, I had to remind myself that you cannot grow in comfortable spaces. My word for 2018 was preparation and I had to prepare to fight whomever would be in the way of me grasping what was mine; INCLUDING myself.  Fight the old you, fight for everything you’re hoping for, Creed II style, because if not you’ll be settling. You will surrender to complacency and will never meet the you, you were destined to become. 

L stands for Lessons not Loses. You have to let go in order to gain more.

In 2018, myself and a few others experienced some things that were completely brand new to us. When the time for that “reality” had come to an end or the unwarranted truth behind the moment was revealed (about ourselves and the necessity of experiencing it), we were upset at the thought of never being able to encounter it again. We felt like we were robbed of a moment, of a chance, of something new. Life had us thinking, why did I need to go through all of that? Why give it and take it away?

When we get exposed to new experiences we think “what can get better than this? I may never have this again, so let me hold on to it” & what do we do? Settle. Settling into the perception of losing, causes us to miss out on the lessons of life and love when we don’t ask ourselves what we gained from it when time runs out (and trust me the time on certain people, places and things WILL RUN OUT).

Through my reflection, I realized that sometimes we are presented with events to show us how certain things or emotions are possible. These moments could also be tests to see if you are ready for what you asked for or if you learned from the first time. We settled in these “new and improved” realities because they were fresh and when “taken away” we felt like it was an L.

The next time you experience a moment like the one you did not want to let go of, it will be in greater depth!

When WE choose for ourselves, we will lose every time because we don’t know what’s best. When it comes to God we will always win. We just have to learn to not hold on so tightly to everything because we’ll have no room for more. The best is yet to come. 

You cannot worry and remember at the same time.

Either you’ll worry about the things God hasn’t done “yet” or you can remember what He has already accomplished. Then again, are you worried that He isn’t meeting YOUR timeline or getting you out of something YOU agreed to? #CheckYourself

You have to have a TEST in order to have a TESTIMONY.

In order to manifest into the person we are destined to be and ready for the purpose set before us, we must acquire certain skills. Some trials that we experience are necessary for the benefit of others, while others are necessary for us to grow. In the beginning of 2018 I asked God to help strengthen my faith and He showed me how fragile it was from the beginning! It was honestly the roughest experience of my life but it was what I needed. I have a receipt, proof, knowledge, that what I ask for will come through life’s many lessons. We like to think that we’re ready for the next but was never ready from the beginning. We get comfortable in our situation forgetting that growth is a revolving door and not a one stop shop. To become something you never were, you have to do something you’ve never done. The test is the key for access to greater. 

Sometimes YOU are the problem. Take accountability and responsibility for your actions

The one person we seem to not hold accountable is ourselves. Sometimes we’re the toxic,complaining or “bad” friend. Sometimes we hold onto things and people longer than we’re supposed to or even cause our own demise and expect God to come to the rescue. Sometimes we don’t live up to our own expectations. Sometimes we are the ones that let other people down and get mad when we’re being called out. How many of the situations you encountered this year was due to your own decisions? Let’s face it, sometimes we ourselves don’t get it right and THAT’S OKAY but let’s stop pointing the finger and look at the 3 pointing back. 

Preparation versus Destination. Are you even 100% ready for that?

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the finish line that we don’t prepare for the journey. PREPARE for what you PRAY for. We get so caught up in getting to the opportunity that we don’t equip ourselves to even be able to receive it. We even get crazy in trying to finish the entire image when he only gave us a corner. Like my Father says, it’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have it, than to have it and not be prepared. Think back on your dreams and ask yourself, have I done what I can to get what I want. Are you prepared?

The grass is NOT greener on the other side

Whatever amount of grass you’re looking at, only looks so green because they’re taking care of it! If you took care of yours, it would look the same if not better. Don’t give up on something just because you’re consumed with what other people have going on. Give your grass some TLC, tap into its potential. If you spent as much time looking in other people’s yards and in their business as you did on your own field you’d have surpassed your own dreams by now. 

Are you REALLY content?

Have you ever found yourself complaining about the things you prayed for? You’re happy about this or that but then praying for something else?

We have to ask ourselves, are we really happy with the season we’re in. We can’t expect to move forward to the next level if we’re not appreciative and fully present in the here and now. We get so hyperactive about what’s supposed to happen in 6 months, 2 years, 5 years that we overlook the wisdom and joy we have now. Be happy about this blessing before you’re looking over the shoulder for the next. You could be missing vital lessons and the growth of receiving what you once prayed for, because you’re too busy trying to sprint during a marathon.

Your present situations are a mirror to the part of you that need love

As humans, we try our best to refrain from experiencing or re-experiencing as much pain as possible. In the sick and evil world we live in, that’s honestly impossible. When we’re presented with situations or people that trigger something we tried to keep buried within us, we panic and try to avoid or suppress it. It is my belief that when those emotions, thoughts or memories arise, life is presenting you with an opportunity to finally fix something beneficial to your emotional future.

There are pieces in you that want love, forgiveness, acceptance, seen and so much more. When those feelings arise, address it. Because that little girl or boy will always be alive and making decisions for your present self until they get what they’re seeking. Give love to the parts of you that are screaming out.

Watch Your Mouf! 

The Bible says that there is power of life or death in the tongue. Not only can we knock down others but we can counteract things on the way to us! We have to speak things into existence and believe what we say. God can give you a vision about what’s to come and you could kill the dream dead by speaking and doubting against what you saw. Claim success! Claim peace! Claim love! Speak power! Prophesy over your life. Check your tongue.

Blessings and growth are NOT always tangible

In what some Pastor’s would call the “popcorn generation”, we desire for all of the things we pray, hope and wish for to manifest right then and there. Not only do we want them quick but we always want our blessings to come tangibly: in the PHYSICAL form. We pray for God to move materialistically in our lives and have the NERVE to be upset when it doesn’t happen. How many blessings have you overlooked because they were not something you could see? You prayed for a raise but God wanted to strengthen your ability to manage money and balance responsibilities. You prayed for a husband/wife and God provided your heart with forgiveness on those past relationships and a moment to love yourself more. You sought God for a new job because of that boss you hate, but instead he gave you peace and grace as there was a reason you needed that boss around. Our blessings will NOT always come in ways we can see. There were so many times God gave me peace, love, increased my faith, revived old friendships/connections and so much more to endure the season I was in. STOP ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND SEEK OUT WHAT YOU NEED. Be grateful He didn’t give you what you REALLY wanted because Lord only knows how unprepared you might’ve been for the situation He knew was coming.

Reignite the Flame

Most people don’t want to admit but in life we get complacent, lazy, slothful and downright irresponsible. We sleep when we should be studying. We watch tv shows, hang out with friends and use time on basic things when we should be feeding into our passions. We write down goals, dreams and plans but pile bills and other paperwork on top. Our zest for something diminishes but its not lost! To be transparent, I was slowly losing my zest for blogging but I was intentional on making my way back. I was purposeful to read more material and re-read my old posts. I actively sought ways to get back in the groove because I did not want to let go of something I truly loved. When you reach a plateau, life is screaming at you to go to the next level. That new level requires more dedication, more time and more attention. Are you willing to spark it back up or will you let life blow out your flame?

This is just a place

As humans we struggle with letting go. If we reminded ourselves that the relationship, person or experience is worth more than the location or event, we would realize the place is insignificant compared to the gift you gain from the memory. Where you are right now, is just a place, just a moment, just a new life experience, necessary for the fulfillment of your future and purpose. You will not be there for forever but the lesson, the wisdom, will be with you forever. Your resilience to move forward and utilize what that moment brought you is all you need. That moment COULD last forever if you utilize the experience wisely. 

Application

I know, I know. That was A LOT of keys to take in. I’m with you! We talked about what lessons life can teach us and now its: how can I apply them?

“Information without Application leads to NO Transformation”

We read so many self-help books and gain insight and wisdom from Pastors, Mentors and other Inspirational/Motivational Speakers but FAIL to actually APPLY them to our circumstances. Seems pretty redundant don’t you think? We have to take the time to reflect consistently on what we learn. Ask someone how they feel about a certain topic. Share viewpoints. Journal and write down new revelations and words of wisdom. Re-read old tips and tools. Give yourself space to think of where you were, where you are and where you want to be. Reflect. Reflect. Reflect. Every single key I talked about applied to me within 2018 but I would have only remembered because I was attentive to the lessons and blessings.  

So as we embark on a new journey together, my prayer is that you choose to grow from the lessons of 2018 rather than being stuck where you are. While people are focusing on the outward appearance of things, continue to focus on accomplishing the work on the inside.

It has been a pleasure to walk this walk with you thus far and I am excited to see where you go, where WE go within the next 365 days. Cheers to the New Year and thank you for making me wiser. 

Until Next Time