'A Person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words and

the deeds of a person's hands will return to him.'

~Proverbs 12:14

Getting Through Seasons of Change

No one ever said that life would be easy. We all must enter into seasons of change whether they bring us bliss or trials and tribulation. Just like it says in the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament, 'to everything there is a season...A time to plant and a time to sow; a time to tear down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.'  Whether we like it or not, it is all part of the plan. You may be at a place in your life where you have found contentment and peace of mind as you continue to train yourself to live out a healthier well-balanced lifestyle. However, if you believe that you will be living in a continuum of happiness without any more problems, misfortunes, or disappointments, it's time for a reality check. 

You may work hard at conquering your insecurities, doubts, fears, and negative thinking. In fact, you may have even been doing a superb job of it for quite some time now and are feeling pretty good about yourself. But,  remember that you are a work in progress. This will not be an overnight transition. There's no tapping your heels three times and poof your a new person. This is a journey that ushers in strong currents that will try to knock you right off your feet. Don't be surprised if you see some of the old habits, attitudes, and thought patterns trying to creep back in especially when 'life' happens. Don't get discouraged or you could get caught up in the negativity and be tempted to give up on yourself. Remember that you and I will never reach our full potential in this lifetime. And that is okay. 

Here are some helpful things you can do to stay focused during the rough seasons:

Practice Trusting - Trust that things will eventually change, because NOTHING ever stays the same. 

Practice Patience - Be patient with yourself as you move through your journey. Give yourself grace because you will mess up from time to time. Also, have patience for others in your path. 

Practice Gratefulness- When tempted to be discouraged or fall back into your old patterns, thank God that you have this opportunity to grow and blossom no matter how challenging life may seem. 

Practice Forgiveness - Forgive yourself when you fall short. From time to time you will have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward towards your goals. 

Keep in mind that even the most well-balanced people experience sadness, disappointment, misfortune, and grief.  It's just a matter of how long they let themselves undergo these emotional struggles before they keep it moving forward. We all have a free will to choose how long we will let ourselves stay in those dark places. The choice is yours.