A New Way to Overcome Obstacles

 

Life is laden with obstacles, both big and small.  While each person's experiences differ, everyone has their fair share of problems.  Some people face unemployment, while others face marital problems, some face depression, while others face financial distress.  Whatever issues you are facing right now, it is important to remember that each trial is temporary.  While examining your situation, self-honesty should be in the forefront.  This is the best and only way to free yourself from repetitive chaos.  I will share what works for me when I am faced with my own trials.  But first, I will disclose those behaviors that did not work for me in the past:

1. I would rely on my own understanding of life, making up things as I go along to appease my bad decisions. 
2. I would insist that I was right in all of my decisions, despite the mess I had made. 
3. Whenever something went wrong I was never a part of the issue, it was not my fault.

When I held on to that faulty mentality, I noticed that my issues kept getting worse.  Then one day, I arrived at a point of pure frustration, frustration with life and life issues.  I had to make a change, life had to be better than the chaos I was living in.  In response to my frustration, I decided to change the way I look at life.  This is what worked for me:

1. I sought out knowledge through resources such as books and from people who I admired.
2. I changed the way I looked at myself in relation to the rest of the world.
3. I started assuming responsibility for my involvement in my problems.
4. I changed characteristics within me that were faulty and I embraced myself despite my imperfections.

While everyone may experience life differently, we all have obstacles to overcome.  In overcoming these obstacles, try examining your normal response to life difficulties. Then challenge yourself to respond in a different manner.  You will be surprised at the results. 

Here are some questions to reflect on:

1.       Who is responsible for your problems? 

       2.       Are your problems because of someone or something outside of you?

3.       How do you generally view life?

4.       What can you change to resolve the issue?

 

The Authority of Your Perception

So, is the glass half full or is the glass half empty?  Are you experiencing pain or is it growth? Is your life a mess or is it just time to remodel?  These are just a few questions that will allow you to reflect on your perception.  What are you harboring in your mind?  Is your mind cluttered with negativity?  Are you generally a positive or negative person?  These are issues worth reflecting on.  If your reading this blog, I am under the impression that you are striving to be a better you.  Therefore, self reflection is the beginning of refining yourself. 

The authority of YOUR perception lies deep within you.  The way you view life will determine the quality of your living experience.  An example, a positive person will look for the good in every situation.  On the other hand, a negative person will perceive most thing negatively, thus, missing many important opportunities.  As everyone has innate authority, why not exercise the authority of one's perception?  How do you view the world?  Are you aware that you mold your reality based on your perception?  Just a concept to think about...

The Elephant in the Room

Let's talk about the elephant in the room.  We are going to discuss the elephant because it is BIG and takes up too much space.  The elephant has managed to squeeze itself in this small room and I suspect that we are not supposed to notice it?  But we do!  The elephant is that thing preventing us from living out our God-given purposes. 

While my elephant is obstructing my view, I can't see yours.  In that respect, I assume that you can't mine.  So I'll stand here, right in front of my elephant, as you walk by and put on a smile, hoping that you don't notice the big elephant standing right behind me.  And I am under the assumption that you are doing the same.  The reality is...there is no more room for our elephants.  We are cluttered, congested, and sick and tired of being the caretaker of such heavy animals.  We cannot carry our elephants around because of its weight.

Now reread the post above and replace the word elephant with your real feelings.  Here are some suggestions: burdens, fears, anger, abuse, depression, suicidal thoughts, isolation, emptiness, unhealthy relationship, insecurities, etc.

We try to ignore the elephant in the room because it is painful to acknowledge it.  But pain is the precursor to change, change the precursor to growth, growth the precursor to maturity.  Once we have arrived at maturity we are ready to live in our God-given purposes.  Some things reflect on:

• Am I ready to acknowledge the elephant in the room?
• What can I do to change my elephant into something more desirable?
• Is my elephant a part of my God-given purpose?
• Can I help others by sharing my elephant with them?
• By sharing my elephant with others, can I save someone's life?

We were not designed to carry elephants around.  It is time to let God use your elephant for His purpose. Pray about it!