I had to chuckle yesterday morning as I overheard (and I was not eavesdropping….when you live in a small 1400 square foot home with 8 people…nothing is private) the conversation three of my daughters were having as they were in the bathroom getting ready for church. It went something like this.
Amy: I really want to have kids! But…..I really, really don’t want to get married.
Grace: I really, really want to have kids too! But…..I really, really, really don’t want to get married….and you can’t have kids unless you get married. (I’m so glad the 5 year old already has that instilled in her)
Rebekah: Well………I really, really, really want to have kids! But (said emphatically)…..I am not going to get married! Grace: (running thru the house) Yeah….I don’t like boys! I only like Daddy!Amy: (with despair & frustration in her voice) I know BUT……..I really, really, really want to have kids! And I really, really, really, really don’t want to get married. <sighing> What am I going to do??
I sat in my bedroom nursing Joy and laughing…..their dilemma is not unlike many of our own.We really, really, really want to …….lose weight. But…..we really, really, really, really don’t want to exercise. We really, really, really want to …….have some extra money. But…..we really, really, really, really don’t want to be on a budget.
We really, really, really want to …….be current with our photo albums. But…..we really, really, really, really don’t want to let go of our perfection. We really, really, really want to …….have daily devotions. But…..we really, really, really, really don’t want to get up early. We really, really, really want to …….have a successful business. But…..we really, really, really, really don’t want to make those client contacts
And just like my girls…..we go back and forth in desperation and frustration over what we really, really, really want to do (or earn, or make, or be) AND what we really, really, really don’t want to do. And more often than not we let the thing we really, really, really don’t want to do STOP us from doing the thing that we really, really, really want.Now I am very confident that age & hormones will solve my girls dilemma fairly easily and that they will overcome their objection to getting married and that they will find awesome godly men who want as many kids as they do. (which is a lot….thanks to me telling them that babies are one of the greatest gifts God can give you and that I want dozens of grandchildren!)But what will we do to overcome our own objections and to press in & do the very thing we don’t want to do in order to get the very thing we want? (did you follow that??)Here are seven simple steps:
1. Make a list (not just a mental one….a written one) of exactly what you really want in life.
2. Below that list write down an action list of everything you know you need to do to make what you really want become a reality.
3. Put a star by all the actions that you really, really, really don’t want to do. (or dread doing)
4. Decide that you are going to overcome your fear, disdain, distaste for that activity and that you are going to do it ANYWAY because you are not going to let your own objections STOP you from getting what you really, really, really want!5. Call a friend who you can ask to hold you accountable. Tell them what you really, really, really want. Tell them what you are going to do everyday to get what you really, really, really want. Tell them the specific things that you really, really, really DON’T want to do and give them permission to ask you every week if you have done those things. Tell them you want to be held accountable and that you are counting on them to bug you. (and mean it)6. Get up everyday and do those actions. If you are like me and want to see that you are making progress. (Ok, so I’m a former teacher!) Buy yourself a grade book…write in all the things that you are going to do under the assignments and then check off everyday that you complete those activities If at the end of the week you have NOT done them consistently say to yourself….”I will not allow my own personal objections stand in the way of getting/achieving/being what I really, really, really want.”7. At the end of every week that you have consistently done the business building activities that you have objected to….reward yourself with a treat and celebrate your success because you are on your way to achieving what you really, really, really want!
Inspire Ministries 