What I've Learned Through 40+ Years of My Life

I have learned that...

I don’t have to react to everything that bothers me.

You see, I'm an overthinker... 

The energy it takes to react to every bad thing that happens to you drains you and stops you from seeing the other good things in life same goes when you let it ho over your head, again and again.

Teaching myself to "BE STILL." and "know who God is" in my life gave me peace and enough wisdom to surrender to Him all that I could not handle.

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Life is hard, and being a Christian at that, when all eyes are at you waiting for you to give up. Yet, I am learning to lean into the beautiful stillness. 

I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and I won’t be able to get everyone to treat me the way I want to be treated and that’s okay.

Trying so hard to ‘win’ anyone is just a waste of time and energy and it fills you with nothing but emptiness. .

I can always learn from any lesson I choose that was served to me.

I can  choose to be the bigger person. To choose my peace of mind because that’s what I truly need. I don’t need more drama. I don’t need people making me feel like I’m not good enough.  

I don’t need fights and arguments and fake connections, even. 

Sometimes not saying anything at all says everything. Reacting to things that upset you gives someone else power over your emotions. 

You can’t control what others do, but you can control how you respond, how you handle it, how you perceive it and how much of it you want to take personally. 

That most of the time, these situations say nothing about you and a lot about the other person.

Maybe all these disappointments are just there to teach us how to be kinder to ourselves.  

Not reacting doesn't mean I'm okay with things, it just means I'm choosing to rise above it. 

If I react, it won’t change anything, it won’t make people suddenly love and respect me, it won’t magically change their minds.

Sometimes it’s better to just let things be, let people go, don’t fight for closure, don’t ask for explanations, don’t chase answers and don’t expect people to understand where you’re coming from.

In the art of letting go, you are not your own saving grace, being broken, fallen and hurt constantly can never make you one.  However, only when you accept the one, true Saving Grace, the Lord Jesus, can you unburden everything and forget about the past and be hopeful of the present and the future.

You know,  life is better lived when you don’t center it on what’s happening around you and center it on what’s happening inside you instead. 

Work on yourself, but seek God first, and you will find...and that includes your inner peace and you’ll come to realize that not reacting to every little thing that bothers you is the first ingredient to living a happy and healthy life.

Value true, lasting relationships.  Be present to anyone who needs you.  Foster good relationships with those who inspire you, who strengthen and love you.

Lastly,  I have learned to be grateful even with the most difficult times, walking in thanksgiving makes me see the abundance of good things around me.  Gratitude is the gateway to joy.  And being grateful to God opens up more blessings and grace in my life. 

Isaiah 40:29-31 New International Version (NIV)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.