“Choices.”
Can you help me out?
Choice – Noun:
“an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.”
This past Sunday in church my pastor was preaching a message on Election PTSD (I totally didn’t know that was a thing!). Within his message he reminded us that we all have the power of choice. God actually gives us the power to choose. Which is true. God does order our steps and has a path laid out for us, but on the journey of life we are given the opportunities to choose.
The power to choose can be a blessing and a curse sometimes. It’s a blessing when we get to select something that will make us happy over something that won’t. When we get to select something we really want. But it can be a curse when we’re faced with difficult choices. Some difficult choices can be to choose to divorce your partner, to decide whether to leave a job, to select where to go to college, or even when to end a phone call with a loved one because they’re disrupting your peace.
What kind of choices have you made lately? What kind of process do you use when facing hard choices?
After meditating on Sunday’s message and scrolling through all of the media and memes about this most recent election, it made me scale back and really think about how everything we do in life starts with a choice. It really resonated with me in this season because in addition to the election, I’ve decided (again) to kick my healthy lifestyle back into gear!
I was chatting with my friend and I told her that I’m not sure why it’s been so difficult for me to stay consistent with a fitness routine this time around. I will write out notes and plans and goals but then never follow through on them. It’s totally out of my character and I got really bummed about it 😔
BUT I reminded myself that I have the power to choose. I can choose to wake up when my alarm goes off to workout or to hit snooze. To cook healthy meals or pull up in the drive thru. To pour a glass of water or a glass of wine.
When seeing those choices written out like that it makes it look so easy! Lol! But it’s really not that easy when your mindset isn’t ready to make those decisions. However, we know that nothing worth having comes easy!
So that’s where I need your help!
I am soliciting your support, encouragement, and cheers! I’m also encouraging you all to be mindful when someone you know has made the choice to do something new, challenging, or different. It’s sooo much harder to decline an invite or to say “No” to someone you love. So if you know your friend or family member is trying to live a healthier lifestyle, don’t force them to make an additional choice by inviting them out to eat, for example. Or out for drinks if they’re abstaining from alcohol. Help them make their choices and maybe even join them on the journey or invite them out to a fun physical activity. 😊
Life is hard. Life is challenging. Setting goals is easy. Accomplishing them isn’t. Be mindful and support your friend on their walk. Be that person that helps your friend make their next choice their best choice! ✨
“Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” 1 Samuel 8:9 NIV
Moni Jay, Off the Record
