One time, about a year ago, I was talking with my dad. Over the course of the previous year he had lost a lot of weight. Actually, he was kind of an inspiration to me as I started trying to improve my health.
In that conversation, he mentioned that he had started moving the needle of the scale in the wrong direction. Apparently in matters of weight, more is not always better. As we talked about it, he mentioned that he was going to have to go back to doing what he had been doing in order to acheive his health goals.
When he had first started, he and my mom were looking for exercises and good foods they could add to their lives and for bad or questionable foods they could remove from their lives. As they got closer to achieving their goals and had to begin maintaining, this mentality began to change. They started thinking of foods that they enjoyed that they could add back to their lives. Things that weren’t necessarily healthy or might be “questionable” but that they felt safe with.
Isn’t that the “diet” mentality that pervades our society?
- What can I take out of my life to achieve my goals?
- When can I stop trying so hard?
- What can I start doing to achieve my goals?
- When can I stop trying so hard?
This is often what drives our pendulum swings in health, financial responsibility, spirituality and more?
- If I [insert spiritual discipline here] more, I can be closer to God.
- I’m doing pretty well; I don’t have to try so hard.
- If I stop doing [insert questionable thing here], I can better live the Kingdom.
- I think I’m doing OK; I don’t have to try so hard.
As a society, we tend to be leisure-focused. To be interested in what (enjoyment) we can get out of life. We’re not afraid to work but if we don’t have goals, we tend to become complacent. To want to rest.
It’s time to reignite the fire within us to be more than we are, to achieve more than we can imagine, to trust and love and work more than before. It’s time for us to be passionate.
Set a goal. Work towards the goal. Set a new, bigger goal. Work towards the goal. Fuel the fire.
Evaluate your life. Are there things you like? Are there areas you’d like to make progress? Are there areas where you’ve lost ground? If so, consider where continuing your current course will likely leave you.
If you like what you see – continue further. If you’re not so sure, consider changing directions. One small step at a time.
