One thing I do for
self-care
is go running, and preferably outside. During the cold months I put my time in at the gym, but I always cancel my membership for the months of May through September, since I’d rather spend every unaccounted-for moment in the outdoors as long as the weather allows it! This year, once the gym membership ended so did the running. After noticing this two-month lapse, I concluded that I needed to realign with my
priorities
of how I want to spend my time and again started regularly committing to do it. After a week, I was disappointed to notice that my body did not feel as adept to running as it had just last spring, and I was surprised at how lacking I was in
perseverance
! I know if I stick with it things will get better, but I must to be patient and not let this initial feeling of dismay hold me back from where I want to be.
Our capacity to
endure
can be such a blessing in life. I don’t know how many times I’ve prayed for
patience
, but usually, my request is met with some trial I need to wait long periods of time to work through. When I am not patient and
mindful
of the present, I often
stress
about potential future events instead of enjoying the time I am given.
In daily life we are pressed with
distractions
from every angle, persuading us to lose sight of our goals and what is most important. Many times, we are presented with
change
and simultaneously with a chance to
grow
. In times like these, are you praying for
(the theological definition of)
perseverance? 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Don’t forget to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit, and let God go before you!
The hardest part of any change is
uncertainty
, but if you trust that God has good things in store for you then also
trust
in His care to get you there. Adopting a
growth mindset
- allowing yourself to learn and mature through trials instead of being closed minded to change or sidetracked by obstacles, will afford you the opportunity to
enjoy
and
appreciate
each moment without stressing to rush through to the next task at hand.
