Do you get caught up in the vicious cycle of when (fill in the blank) happens, then I will be happy? Your waiting game might be losing weight or making more money. Maybe you’re exhausted from changing diapers all day and are certain your joy will return when all of your littles are finally potty trained.
I spent far too much of my lifetime waiting for something big to occur rather than enjoying my present circumstances, the beauty of what was right in front of me.
When our kids are little, we anxiously await their first steps, the end of diapers, the day they can feed themselves… From a mom of grown children who desperately misses holding her babies while they slept, please enjoy whatever stage you’re in right now with your precious kids. Each of those special moments only happen once.
My ongoing battle with food addiction causes a massive amount of unnecessary negative self-talk. When I lose weight, then I will be happy, want to get out more, have more energy… But here’s the truth: I can be happy, social, energized… TODAY!
I’m so excited about my growing essential oil business. I want to enjoy each new friend gained, dollar earned, and fear conquered. Instead I seem to get caught up in WHEN I have this many customers, make enough money to pay off my house, or suddenly find myself fearless, THEN I will be totally content, happy, and peaceful.
Our kids’ needs, weight issues, and unmet goals aren’t what hold us back. Our mindset handles that all by itself.
Please remember this: We aren’t promised tomorrow. This is not a dress rehearsal.
You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a little while. Then it disappears.
~James 4:14 (NIRV)
Every precious moment, tiny victory, or healthier choice needs to be savored. The journey is what counts. Holding off on peace and joy until we reach our destination is a devastating thought process.
There’s always a new goal to reach or mountain to climb. If we continually wait to arrive rather than enjoy the everyday, life loses its sparkle. We deserve the sparkle.
I’m a huge fan of Pinterest, but I think it’s a disservice at times. We see people’s highlight reels and expect our normal daily lives to measure up. It actually doesn’t take that much to find true happiness. We don’t need the perfect recipe, kid’s craft, or home organization system to fulfill us.
You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have. We didn’t bring anything into the world. We can’t take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that.
~1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIRV)
Finding contentment. Loving God. Enjoying our people and everyday moments. Celebrating every tiny step forward. These are the things that will bring us joy. Let’s drop that unnecessary WHEN…, THEN… habit and find all the happiness we deserve today.
As always, thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Subscribe to my newsletter if you would like to receive updates by email.
Oh yes, Candace, this right here –> ‘Every precious moment, tiny victory, or healthier choice needs to be savored. ‘
How different our lives would look if we were filled with gratitude for every good thing rather than always gazing behind us or trying to figure out the future.
Thank you for this gentle reminder, friend …
What a beautiful thought that is, Linda. A life filled with gratitude. I would dare say that’s the absolute key to joy!
AMEN to this, Candace! My gosh, it’s so natural for me to be constantly thinking about the ‘next thing’ and not savoring the moments I am in and celebrating what I am doing NOW. God has blessed us with this day, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Thank you for this important reminder and for your encouragement, my friend.
That is my natural tendency too, Chris. I’m definitely a work in progress with this! Thankfully even baby steps reap great rewards :). Always a pleasure to see you, my friend.