Lent 2020 - on Day 12

Changing your life is not easy. Old habits can be very entrenched in the day to day living. What do they say - a new habit can be made in 20 days, but it takes a lifetime to break them? Well, I'm not even sure about that. I have a couple of books on habits ... maybe I should read them and see what they share with me.  Look for a review later on The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg and Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before. I own them both but have yet to read them.

This last week has been a challenge ... it seems that has become the title for my life - "A Challenge"! ... and yet I look at the stories of others and I know mine is ... well, it's mine. And I don't think it would be right of me to compare mine with others. That would also mean that mine is for me to manage, to deal with, to overcome, and to build upon, right? I did sit and reflect on those words for Lent 2020 that I put forth last time - Sacrifice, Reflection, Contemplation, Preparation.

And here's what I came up with:

Sacrifice - what am I going to give up for this time? (1) using my cell in bed, (2) media after 9:30 PM, (2) food on Saturday and Sunday;
Reflection - (1) Where have I been? (complete Me Inc) and (2) What have I yet to become? (goals);
Contemplation - daily (1) prayer/meditation and (2) journalling; and
Preparation - (1) external cleaning and action and (b) internal work.

So ... that's the plan ... now, to figure out how to do it because if the last week is any indication, I'm not on the winning side.

Perhaps to print it out, to post it somewhere, to have it so it is a constant reminder ... perhaps that's a place to start?

Add ... I have a friend who also wants to make a change in her life, a change to be more healthy. We are trying to encourage each other, perhaps also be accountable to each other, and it's been a month, and so far, a bunch of up and down. For her - a life-change (move) and lots of company. On the one hand, I want to give her a break, say that perhaps now is not the time for her ... and yet, the fact is that all these 'inserts' into life, these detours, and changes are part of life. And if we can't figure out how to stay focused in spite of them, then ... we'll never achieve. Somehow I have to figure out how to push through, so I can share with her the secret, the method.

Let me do so that I may share.
Amen.

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