Starting Point

Good Monday Morning!

Another lovely weekend here in the So CA! I hope you were able to enjoy your free time, wherever you found yourself. I received pictures over the last few days from friends in various parts of the country, all of which displayed the beauty of our land. The photos reminded me of some of our old poetic songs that speak about the allure and loveliness we share.

Receiving those inspirational photos reminds me of going on a journey. There’s preparation and packing, and sometimes we’re not quite sure where we’re going or what will be there when we arrive. Perhaps the circumstances of our trip revolve around a reward for accomplishments, while other times, the excursion may be prompted by some less than desirable events or life changes. Regardless of the purpose, we know we must start the process and be hopeful for the outcome.

Life and health can be like that journey. Our present physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health may be contrary to what we’d like. However, the current experiences can’t be enhanced or altered unless we take that first step. We have to have a starting point.

Philosophers and motivators have pondered this idea for years. Socrates wrote, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Tony Robbins shared, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” And Mark Twain penned, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

Often, I think we get confused by others’ opinions and judgments and fail to recognize our slow, downward spiral into questioning our worth and abilities. Maya Angelou wrote, “You may not control the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Similarly, Eleanor Roosevelt shared, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Nido Qubein, American businessman and motivational speaker, offered these insights:

We all have to process many items throughout the day, not the least of which is how we can exhibit compassion and grace to ourselves just as we would to our friends. There’s also how we punish ourselves for past mistakes when a better use of our time would be to learn from them. And what about setting impossible goals and then berating ourselves for not accomplishing those desires, even knowing that it was a setup. We get lost and don’t know where to begin.

Imagine what life would be like if we spent all the energy that we expend on the worries and fears arising from self-criticism and channeled our thoughts to assess present circumstances. Then we’d be able to determine the correct starting point for a better and more effective outcome.

Creating new positive strategies isn’t simple. Still, it’s certainly more productive than traversing those downward spirals. And becoming present-minded may eliminate the temptation to solve tomorrow’s challenges by holding space for today and all its wonders.

In the Book of Numbers 33:2, we learn:

“Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And there are their journeys according to their starting points:” (NKJV)

And, in The New Testament, we learn more about living in the present:

“…whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:25-27 (NKJV)

“…who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life…” Luke 18:30 (NKJV)

My challenge this week is to be gentle with ourselves and those around us. Forgive ourselves when we feel we’ve missed the mark. Show compassion for our humanness as we would do for a close friend. And don’t dwell in the minutia that causes confusion and chaos. Strive to remain in the present moment to understand where to set our next starting point.

Remember, it’s not about avoiding unsavory moments or denying our flaws. It’s about using our trauma and tragedies to create a message of strength and hope for ourselves and others. We have within us the resilience to turn our times of worry into the strategies of warriors. We only need to recognize a starting point.

Have a most beautiful week determining your starting points!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda