Give Yourself a Break

by Donna L. Watkins

© 2006 Donna L. Watkins - Rabbit
Life becomes more complicated and hectic with each passing year. The rat race is continually gearing up to outdo itself. I don't believe life should be lived in the fast lane. There are alternatives if we look for them and truly desire them.

Change is a scary thing, but it can make some of your dreams come true. Taking that first step is the hardest, but each one after it becomes easier and more exciting. Fear is crippling, so we have to work hard not to let it take over. I read this in a devotion last month:

"Fear is living in the future before you get there."

We have so many things to fear with the news media giving us new options on a regular basis. Then we also have our own personal fears. Fear of failure and fear of rejection. Some of us do such a great job of rejecting ourselves that we don't even notice if somebody else rejects us.

Perfectionists continually berate themselves for what they don't get done or what they don't get right. Since I'm a recovering perfectionist, I know the drill. We set unattainable goals and lists of daily tasks that should require a team of people to accomplish them.

Give yourself a break from this pattern of behavior. Shout to yourself, "Have mercy on me!" Don't worry about what people expect of you. Do what you hear the Holy Spirit telling you to do. Do you want to please people or please God?

I'm in the process of a huge change in my life right now ... and these are things I am telling myself. It's so easy to go with the flow of yesterday, but if you hear a voice telling you to do something different, I encourage you to STOP and assess who it is you want to follow. Go for the gold!