life beyond the well…

Category Archives: Balance


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2013 First Quarter Review

It seems like 2013 is zooming by!  I can hardly believe that it’s already April.  This year has already been amazing, and I’m really excited to see what God has in store for the rest of the year.  Preacherman and I have been enjoying our life together as newlyweds, and are learning, loving, laughing, and growing together every day.  It’s so much fun being married to your best friend!

I’m not one for resolutions, but going into this year, I knew that I wanted to focus on my dissertation and getting into a healthy exercise routine.  Along with that, I wanted to be better about reading and studying my word, and getting to work on time.  After experiencing some challenges, I feel like I’m finally on track.

More than anything, I’ve learned the value of consistency and persistence.  Every thing that I’ve committed to focusing on this year does not yield immediate results.  And I, like the rest of us, am used to getting results when I want them.  Our microwave society, complete with all the technology that I could ever desire (until some marketing gurus convince me that I need something else), has conditioned me to want the results immediately.  This is SO unhealthy.  Anything worth having takes time.  If we rush the process, we don’t get to enjoy the product in its’ best form.  Can it stand on its’ own?  Maybe.  But you can never know the value of waiting without actually waiting and seeing the process all the way through.

But also, each of the things that I’m focusing on for this year are mostly dependent on me.  Meaning, if I’m not seeing the progress I desire, it’s more than likely the result of something that I’ve done- or failed to do.  So, if I’m failing to be consistent and persistent, I’m not going to see the results.  It’s no one’s fault but mine.  Coming to grips with that has truly allowed for me to take ownership of my behavior so that I can be sure that I’m getting the desired results.

What does all this equate to: discipline.  In regards to my healthy exercise routine, it’s meant getting up early or carving time in the evenings to work out; but also taking the time to make sure I’m eating the right things and tracking my food and exercise intake.  In regards to my dissertation, it’s meant constantly seeking feedback from my advisor and doing revision after revision, even when I don’t understand or see the need in revising.  In reading my word, it’s meant taking stock of my time, and not being afraid to press reset when I’ve done a poor job at managing my time and my priorities.  What I’ve realized is that if I fail to be disciplined, I’m going to experience a failure of some sort down the line.

I’m looking forward to applying the lessons learned during this first quarter to the rest of the year, and finishing stronger than ever!

Be encouraged!  Peace and blessings!


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Press Reset

I’ve been hoping and praying all year that it wouldn’t come to this.

I started this year out with the best of intentions, and was fairly faithful in my progress- at least initially.

But then, I just got swamped. Late nights and early mornings, trying to balance family life, work life, regular life, and my school life. Finally, the moment came where I’d have to do what I’d been hoping all along would NOT have to happen: I had to press “Catch me up” on my bible reading plan app.

I know for some of you, this may not be that serious.  But for me, it was an immediate and striking reminder of how I had become too busy; of how the “urgent” began to crowd out the “important”.  And the thing is- I recognized it when I was just a few days behind in my reading plan, but instead of taking immediate action to fix it (i.e.: devote some extra time to reading and studying the word), I just kinda casually dealt with it- reading a little extra here, a little extra there; but not enough to be significant or to make any real progress or to see any real results.

The truth is that I viewed pressing that “Catch me up” button as a failure, instead of as an opportunity to learn, grow, and recalibrate myself to prioritize the items that I feel are most important.  By being bound to this mindset, I got further behind instead of making even the slightest hint of progress.

Life is kind of like that.  We hate to press the reset button.  We never want to have to catch up, because having to catch up means having to admit that we were behind instead of “on par” or “ahead”.  But what I learned is that it’s okay to press the reset button.  It’s okay to have to catch up and reorganize your priorities.  It’s better to take the steps necessary to move forward and progress than to stay stuck because you have too much pride to admit that you were behind in the first place.

In what areas of your life do you need to press the reset button?  Let me encourage you to JUST DO IT!  You’ll feel better afterwards- I promise!

Be encouraged!  Peace and blessings!