“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” C. S. Lewis
Happy Monday!
I hope your weekend was fantastic! I’ve had a crazy busy few weeks and took advantage of some much-needed downtime. It’s incredible how many ways we can keep ourselves and our schedules overloaded without even realizing it. Sometimes, we have to be intentional and really strategize when it comes to our self-care.
Having a few hours to myself gave me pause to consider the future. Life continues to change around us, and mine is no exception. It can be daunting, at times, as we think about what we need to release in order to make room for the new, but letting go is part of the deal. We can’t receive anything with clenched hands and a closed mind. Letting go may not be easy, but it’s a necessary step if we’re going to remain relevant and maintain an acceptable quality of life.
C. S. Lewis had some sage words to share:
Sometimes we have to say goodbye to something or someone. Maybe it’s a good release and in the other’s best interests, but it changes things, and we might ache for the way things were. Perhaps it’s a comfortable habit or way of conducting business that we must leave behind to clear the path for better health or fresh innovations. Often, it’s a mindset that no longer serves any useful purpose, and letting go releases us from emotional pain, allowing healing and restoration to occur.
Yes, it may be painful to let go, but think about the new possibilities. We decide to stop some old eating patterns (maybe some that we’ve had our entire lives) and adopt a new plan. We lose weight, feel better, and can engage in activities that we thought we’d never be able to enjoy.
We decide our life is out of balance. We seek a new job that offers a higher salary (perhaps we can finally ask for what we deserve for the first time in our careers) and allows us to let go of our side hustles. We choose to work on some old personal issues (maybe it’s time to understand our negative defaults) and hire a counselor. Perhaps, we’re tired of being angry and sad all the time (maybe we need to forgive someone who has wronged us or forgive ourselves for past lapses in judgment), and we find spiritual guidance from a trusted source.
The following may be the most relevant passage in Scripture and relates so well to the intent of this musing:
“Not that I have already attained or have already been perfected, but I follow after it so that I may lay hold of that for which I was seized by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:12-14 (MEV)
As we courageously leave things behind, we create space for new things ahead. We open the time for exploration and understanding. We welcome opportunities to consider new developments that may not only affect our lives but also enhance the lives of others around us. We encourage innovation, possibility, and the acceptance of potential in ways we may not have considered before. It’s another pathway to finding our authentic selves, living in the light of truth. It’s freeing to let go of the past and move forward to the things ahead, and it provides us with the creative means to change.
Let’s take some time this week to reflect on our lives and consider what we can leave behind in favor of things ahead. I’m sure many of us already have some thoughts and are creating a list of possibilities. Have some fun with this and don’t be surprised by the results!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
