2022 The Year of OVERFLOW
As we walk into a new year many of us will set intentions, resolutions, or goals. I used to do this, but what I found for me personally was when I slipped up, failed, or just gave up, I would beat myself up. Anyone know what I am talking about?
As a coach and as a forever optimist it goes against my very core to set myself or you up for failure. Am I saying I know I would fail? No. I don't think we can say that, but I am saying life happens and when it does, well, things slip, change, or just don't work for us the way they use to.
Case in point. I LOVE COFFEE! Yall know this about me. I post a cup a day normally. Well, now thanks to fluvid....my tastebuds cannot stand the taste of it! True story. Sad story because I really looked forward to that cup of joe daily. And hear me when I say this, I am still making coffee every morning hoping against all hope I will love it again, but it ain't happening...so I pivot, and I am learning to drink something else with God in the morning during my quiet time. It is not as fun, but it is life. Did I fail? No...my tastebuds changed thanks to fluvid. Am I failing you by not posting my cup of joe? No, but dare I admit I felt I was at first? Then it hit me, "Amy, this is life. Constantly everchanging life. Yesterday you loved coffee, today you abhor it, tomorrow we will see, but just for today be thankful you are able to pivot and drink something else while you spend time with God.”
Point here is life is ever flowing and ever changing. Like a river. A river never passes the same place twice. Just like a river, we never pass the same moment twice. There will be obstacles. There will be dams that stop the flow. There will be quiet moments and rushing fierce moments. There will be moments in the cold dark and moments in the warm sun. There will be patches of dry land that the river slowly fills and while it is filling the hole it does so with patience. We can learn from the river. We can be like the river.
How? When life throws us a twist, a turn, an obstacle, death, job loss, illness, or anything uncomfortable, think of the river. What would a river do? It would keep flowing. It finds ways to flow. Over, around, under, and that is what we should do as well. Be open, flow like a river, and just see where life takes you. You might find that you when you go with the flow you actually overflow.
Did you know that in a contest between a river and a rock the river always wins? How? Because the river is willing to answer the natural call of God, gravity, and life to go over, under, around, or maybe even through the rock, to its destiny, which is as it is with all water, to merge with the ocean.
What is your destiny? Are you the rock? Stuck, relentlessly, pushing against the flow of the river…the flow of change? What do you think happens to that rock? It gets worn down over time, until one day it is a pebble and it is eventually swept away.
OR
Are you the water, going with the flow of life without trying to force or manipulate it?
Going with the flow is the obvious course, but for some reason we are scared. We don’t like change and we think we know what is best for us. But the truth is, if you can surrender to the journey, the reason you were created, your purpose, the one HE, God, created you for, the journey that is yours and only yours to take, when you can surrender to that and do it with grace and ease it is then that you will begin to flow like a river and you will become the water.
Don’t be the rock. The rock represents your past and your attachment to it. Your resistance to change and your fears of the unknown. Tomorrow is unknown, the next hour is unknown, let go of the fear and be present in the moment and just go with the flow of now, this present moment. I know this is so much easier said than done, but this year, each morning when you wake, decide, will you be the rock or will you be the river. If you feel you are needing to control something, fearing something, what is it? What are you trying to manipulate or force before its time? Journal on that and decide what else might be true? Peel back the layer until you get to the root and when you do get to the root, decide what you will do with it. Decide right there if it is something you will release and surrender to the flow of life. I promise you this. When you learn the habit of surrender, true surrender, and you learn to go with the flow, you will sleep more soundly, love more fully, think more clearly, and you and everyone around you will feel the overflow of peace that comes with trusting the river to know where it is going and just let go and let flow.
So as we enter into 2022 may we enter into it with flow.
May we be patient in adversity.
Thankful in prosperity.
AND may we have a firm trust in God and His ultimate will for each of us.
May 2022 be the year of overflow….
Overflow of
Love, Peace, Joy, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
May 2022 overflow with all of these blessings from above.
Cheers,
XO,
Amy
New Year takes GUTS!
Most of you who know me, know that I do not like New Years Resolutions. I personally think they are a waste and they cause all kinds of negative emotions for the person who sets them. Think about it… how many times have you heard or said, “This year I want to get back to xyz weight!” And you start out strong until about day three or even week three and then you slowly get frustrated with the fact that the parking lot at the gym is full because everyone else is doing the same thing, or the equipment is full, the class is full, you get the drill! Or how about this one, “I am going to go on xyz diet.” What happens next? Your brain starts to play tricks on you and you are suddenly starving and craving anything and everything! Another good one…."I am going to save xyz amount this year!” What do you think happens? The universe! Your car breaks down and you have to put $980 down on that and you get frustrated! There goes saving money out the window! Does all of this sound about right?
I know this seems so negative for me and it is simply because I do not like these things called Resolutions! They are a recipe for disaster unless of course you are type A and you can complete them.I know there are those people out there in the world. I, however, am a type z kind of gal, fly by the seat of your pants, and go with it! Resolutions cause me all kinds of pain and frustration! So I decided to go on strike and never set one again and I have to say it has been very freeing! You know why? Because the literal definition of Resolution is: a firm decision to do or not do something….I don’t have to be firm. I can be flexible and that is a huge weight off of my shoulders! It will be one off of yours too IF you bite off on my idea.
What is my idea? Well my idea is to have a theme, not a resolution. Definition of theme: The subject of talk, a piece of writing, a person’s thoughts, or an exhibition: a topic……My idea is a theme for the year and the theme I have chosen for 2019 is GUTS!
GUTS
Why guts? Because I just went through a storm with my family and I realized it was because of our GUTS that we got through it. I realized if I applied GUTS to my year in 2019 anything is possible! It is for you too! Let me break it down.
G-Gratitude-starting everyday with a grateful heart and mindset does amazing and wonderful things for the mind and spirit which in turn does amazing things for the body. When you are grateful, your world is a much better place to live.
U-Understanding-Have you ever heard the saying, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” When you tweek your mindset to this AMAZING practice, positive things start to happen. But, in order to do this, you HAVE to listen…..and this my friends is a learned art. The art of listening. One I am still working on. So, this year let’s all jump on the wagon of learning to listen so we can understand FIRST. When we are understanding, really understanding, another’s opinions, needs, hurts, thoughts, dreams, whatever…. it is amazing what happens to the relationship.
T-Transformation-When you work on YOU, not anyone else, because Lord knows I have learned the very powerful and hard lesson you cannot do it for anyone else! You will begin to change and others around you will get on board or jump off the track! When you work on YOU….feed yourself with daily time with our Lord, positive self help books, positive podcast, positive people, continuing education to better yourself, take a walk, join a dance class (hint, hint), or tennis team, eat healthier, all things positive for you, you will begin to change and marvelous things will begin to happen! But I personally believe this transformation can only take place if you practice the art of the FIRST 15. Spending your first 15 minutes with God everyday will do powerful and amazing things in your life and those around you! Try it and see for yourself.
S-Serve-When you serve others you are giving back and when you are giving back it is amazing what is happening in your heart. It’s as simple as the saying, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Now I definitely do not mean for you to neglect your loved ones, but I do want to encourage you to find a cause. Maybe it is serving at your childs school or helping at a school with underprivileged children. Maybe it is a soup kitchen. Maybe it is the foster care system, or your church, the point is there is plenty of need in this world. Challenge yourself! If you have never served maybe set the goal of doing one thing this year, once a month, or each quarter for someone else. If you serve often maybe make that goal loftier like a mission trip…..whatever it is think about it, pray on it, and I promise the door will open. There is so much need for service and love in this world. Together let’s fill the need and watch what happens to your mindset and your heart.
So as we embark on 2019 together, let’s do it with GUTS!
XO,
Amy
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in daily routine.”
Hello, World!
Start your year off with a relaxing bath!