Do You Self Sabotage?

     I know I do. It's a new year full of promise, and plenty of plans for improvement.I want to regain ground on who I should be becoming. I have such a long list of improvements I hope to make that it will have to be instituted in phases. (More on that in a future post)

     My problem is this.....already I find myself thinking I can't do....whatever. I want to write a book proposal, but I don't write well enough. I want to walk to work, but what if there's a problem and I need to get to the kids in a hurry? And so, I keep myself from starting or even trying to start. Holding a coffee in one hand and a cookie in the other, I look at the mountain in front of me without taking a single step toward it. Struggling with self sabotage and warring against it happens every single time I want to do something to change myself for the better.


     The tragedy of self sabotage is that it keeps you in a prison of your own making. It's a trap that prevents you from freely becoming who God created you to be. Those mightily used by God overcome their own negative voices, and listen for His direction.


     It's a little funny if you think about it. You have to talk yourself out of talking yourself out of improving your life. I will though. I will fight to be more.....more loving toward my husband, kids, and others I am in contact with, especially those who are difficult. More organized, more disciplined, more responsible. If I slip backward, I will get up and push into the wind once again because more than anything I don't want to stay where I am. I must keep moving forward.


     " for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down in times of calamity." Proverbs 24:16

     Do you struggle with self sabotage? What do you do about it?

Tassles of Inspiration

     They came from every walk of life, each with their own reason for the pursuit. With incredible determination they cleared the hurdles that lie before them -- language barriers, age, environmental factors, drug abuse, illness, and child rearing--all things that led to dropping out of high school.

   

     Perhaps the most damaging hurdle to overcome was their own self doubt. They labeled themselves. Society labeled them. But tonight, they conquered. Each of them had returned to school to earn a GED, most with plans to continue with a college education, all with a resolve to better themselves. They were here to prove something.

     Rewarded with a strong sense of accomplishment, confidence, and self-worth, this unlikely mix of graduates is ready to tackle their future. New opportunities spread before them like a red carpet ready to welcome movie stars. Already it has been easier for them to find employment and apply for higher education.

     Cheering them on from the sidelines, their families burst with pride. Tears flowed and cheers whooped. You knew that those loved ones walked that tough road with their graduate, and now enjoyed the celebration of completion and redemption. 

     Sometimes all people need is a shot of hope and someone who will walk with them toward their dream.