“Set the Scene”

Are you lining things up to set the scene for the life you want to live?

I’m sure many of you have heard the phrase “set the scene” before. We may have heard it in regard to a play or movie. We might have asked our girlfriend or bestie to set the scene for the tea they’re about to spill. We might have thought about it when we were reading a new book. But have you ever thought about it for your own life?

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts the other morning, and the message was about intentionality. He was essentially saying that once our minds decide to accomplish something, and we align our behaviors with the appropriate actions for that thing to happen, then inevitably we will start seeing and experiencing things in the world line up so that specific thing can come to pass.

decision >> action >> fruition

Once we make a decision within an area of our life, we should begin to act on it. Because a goal without action is just a dream, right? Then once we start to act and do what we need to do to make it happen, it will come to fruition. Our path to our destination will begin to appear. And the next thing we know, we’re thinking back to that day when that initial decision entered our minds and we say to ourselves, “Wow, I did it!”

But what does acting actually look like? This formula won’t work if we’re not intentional. In order for us to get from the initial decision through action to the ultimate fruition, we have to be intentional. We have to set the scene. Make a plan. Increase our knowledge. Ask questions. Study. Surround ourselves with the right people. Meet new people. Move. Pray. Do something different. Do something frightening. Fall. Get back up. Fall again. Get back up again. And most importantly, be patient!

I think that’s the hardest part when we’re setting the scene. Especially if we’re setting the scene for something important and big or new. We can easily grow impatient. It can feel like it’s taking too long for us to get to the next step. It seems like we’re taking 2 steps forward but getting knocked 3 steps back. Our friends and colleagues have already crossed the finish line and we feel like we’re just getting started. But don’t lose heart! Don’t quit! This waiting period is the sweetest part of the journey! This is when we get to really set the scene. This is when we make the journey our own.

Whenever you feel like you want to quit or you’re growing impatient, try to remember to maximize your time in the waiting period. What lessons are you learning? How can you avoid that mistake next time? Is there someone else you should reach out to for advice? Are you comparing your journey to someone else’s? Are you rushing things and skipping steps? Are you falling back into old habits? What red flags are you ignoring and why? Have you stepped out of your comfort zone? Who are you leaning on for help? Have you prayed about it?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

And IDK why, but this message just dropped into my heart: it’s never too late to try something new or to change the direction of your path. I sometimes feel like when we’re growing up and finishing high school, we have so many goals, dreams, and aspirations. We want to go to college, enlist in the military, or take over the family business. (Getting an education and making money is also what our society and country instill in us at an early age). But sometimes when we’re adults and we’ve been working in a certain field for the past 10-20 years, and our hearts are focused on maintaining our lifestyle and retiring, we forget to set goals and challenge ourselves along the way. This formula of decision >> action >> fruition can be applied to more things than just making the decision to go to college, for example. Do you want to move to a new city? Do you want to cut back on your spending? Do you want to pick up a new hobby? Do you want to change careers? Do you want to cut ties with a toxic person or habit? Do you want to just live an overall happier and healthier life? We’re never too old to be intentional!

Capitalize on the waiting period. Use it to your advantage. Maximize your time. And watch you cross that finish line feeling happier and more fulfilled than ever! Set the scene!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, NIV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record