Isn't it interesting that our resolutions are usually made in regard to something we really don't want to do? It's as if resolving to do them is somehow going to make us do them. That is one reason resolutions don't work very well.
“I want to lose fifteen pounds.” No we don't—we want to have lost them! We want very little, or may even resist, the actual process of losing the weight. That may be one reason we find it so hard to keep that resolution!
“I will exercise more.” A good resolve, but a hazy one. Unless we have a plan—not hugely ambitious, but a certain workout, however mild or intense, at a definite time and place—it will be pretty difficult to stick to the vague intention.
“I won't be late to work any more.” Excellent! But if we are part of a busy household and drive to the job at rush hour, we are not always going to be in control. Maybe better would be, “I will do my very best to leave the house by such-and-such time.”
How about this? Resolve to do some of the things that enhance your well-being—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Not such difficult things that you get off track the first week in January; things you really want to do but may have been reluctant to give yourself that “permission.” Such as, “I will eat a piece of dark chocolate, just one, every day.” “I will smile in the mirror and tell myself something good about myself every day.” “I will work my favorite newspaper puzzle every week.” “I will read at least one uplifting book every month.”
Doesn't that sound like a HAPPY new year?
Marjorie
Showing posts with label determination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label determination. Show all posts
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Live by What You Know
It's disheartening to be dismissed or rejected by people we do not know well, but we may feel a whole range of greater emotion if we are betrayed by someone we trusted: anger, disappointment, self-pity, even revenge. David expresses all of these in Psalm 55, written probably under the persecution of Saul and his adherents or when his own son Absalom conspired against him. "It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God. Let death stalk my enemies; let the grave swallow them alive, for evil makes its home within them." (verses 55:12-15)
But listen as David replies to himself. "But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them." (12-19)
Again he complains, "As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!" And again, he assures and comforts himself, "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." (20-22)
In many ways, David's experiences forecast those of the Lord Himself. He came unto His own and His own received Him not, the Scripture explains, and says further that He is (not just was, long ago) despised and rejected of men. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were glad see him when they heard why he had come, and promised to give him money for his ugly deed. He began then to plan for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Worst of all, Jesus endured feeling abandoned and cried from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Yet, at the very last, in spite of violence to body and soul, He acknowledged the presence of His Father by saying, "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit."
David had to live by what he knew rather than by what he could see or what he felt. Jesus had to live by what He knew rather than by what He could see or what He felt. When we feel hounded by circumstances, betrayed by people, perhaps even disappointed in ourselves, we are called to meet the challenge: Live by what you know, not by what you can see or what you feel.
Marjorie
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
But listen as David replies to himself. "But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still oppose me. God, who has ruled forever, will hear me and humble them." (12-19)
Again he complains, "As for my companion, he betrayed his friends; he broke his promises. His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!" And again, he assures and comforts himself, "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." (20-22)
In many ways, David's experiences forecast those of the Lord Himself. He came unto His own and His own received Him not, the Scripture explains, and says further that He is (not just was, long ago) despised and rejected of men. Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were glad see him when they heard why he had come, and promised to give him money for his ugly deed. He began then to plan for an opportunity to betray Jesus. Worst of all, Jesus endured feeling abandoned and cried from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Yet, at the very last, in spite of violence to body and soul, He acknowledged the presence of His Father by saying, "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit."
David had to live by what he knew rather than by what he could see or what he felt. Jesus had to live by what He knew rather than by what He could see or what He felt. When we feel hounded by circumstances, betrayed by people, perhaps even disappointed in ourselves, we are called to meet the challenge: Live by what you know, not by what you can see or what you feel.
Marjorie
Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Acting As If
The Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker gets credit for originating the "Act As If" practice that is popular in Alcoholics Anonymous and other Twelve Step programs. The principles of those steps grew out of the Oxford Group based at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York City where Shoemaker was Rector of the Church and spiritual leader of the Oxford Group. It is he who provided the early inspiration for the spiritual aspects of twelve-step programs, and began using the phrase, "act as if" about 1954. Some naysayers insist that "acting as if" is deceiving oneself, putting on a front for others, or even lying!
I think, however, it comes down to the matter of motive. If we are trying to convince ourselves that we are a superior being, yes, that is deception. If we intend to trick others into believing that we are something that we are not, yes, that is lying. However, affirming what we believe and hope for and beginning to act on it strengthens our belief and hope.
Acting as if does not mean writing checks as if I have money in the bank when I do not.
Acting as if does not mean feigning calm as if I cannot feel hurt or disappointment or anger. Acting as if does not mean working day and night as if I need no rest or self-care.
Acting as if is facing reality and responding appropriately.
Acting as if is intentional in cultivating healthy relationships.
Acting as if is assertive (neither passive nor aggressive) personal behavior.
Acting as if means beginning now to take the action or speak the words I would if I were already the person I want to become!
How would you act if you were not shy, or ashamed, or afraid? Act as if you are not.
How would a self-confident, interesting person act? How would a person act who respected others and herself/himself? Start acting that way.
How would a woman act who believed God valued her and had Divine purpose for her life? Act like her.
Acting as if is decisive. Acting as if involves action based on more than feeling. Acting as if purposes to align us with what is true.
Marjorie
I think, however, it comes down to the matter of motive. If we are trying to convince ourselves that we are a superior being, yes, that is deception. If we intend to trick others into believing that we are something that we are not, yes, that is lying. However, affirming what we believe and hope for and beginning to act on it strengthens our belief and hope.
Acting as if does not mean writing checks as if I have money in the bank when I do not.
Acting as if does not mean feigning calm as if I cannot feel hurt or disappointment or anger. Acting as if does not mean working day and night as if I need no rest or self-care.
Acting as if is facing reality and responding appropriately.
Acting as if is intentional in cultivating healthy relationships.
Acting as if is assertive (neither passive nor aggressive) personal behavior.
Acting as if means beginning now to take the action or speak the words I would if I were already the person I want to become!
How would you act if you were not shy, or ashamed, or afraid? Act as if you are not.
How would a self-confident, interesting person act? How would a person act who respected others and herself/himself? Start acting that way.
How would a woman act who believed God valued her and had Divine purpose for her life? Act like her.
Acting as if is decisive. Acting as if involves action based on more than feeling. Acting as if purposes to align us with what is true.
Marjorie
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Follow the Gleam
Several days ago, a few chance words brought to my mind an old song that I learned in my teen years. It has inspirational words and eminently singable harmonies. We sang it quite earnestly in a high school activity period where girls could join a Y-Teen club affiliated with the YWCA. So, as such things go, I have been humming it over and over—and over and over again!—since then.
The first verse of "Follow the Gleam" speaks of knights and visions and searching for the Holy Grail. (No vampires and paranormal romance for us!) But I especially like the second verse:
Not every light that I've encountered along my life's road has been clear and unmistakable. Some lights have been dim, often barely discernible, but because their small rays were so persistent, I could not ignore them. It took me a long time to find the right, satisfying career—I had to follow a gleam. I've made some sad mistakes while searching for the meaning of real love and genuine selfhood—but I've followed the gleam. I spent many years trying to make sense of my spiritual heritage—I am still following the gleam.
Too often, we mistakenly suppose that we will at some point late in life have the answers to "life's persistent questions." Not so. Most likely, answers to the most crucial questions will come at first as a faint understanding, a glimmer of light. Don't be discouraged. Follow it. "The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18)
Marjorie
Scripture quotation from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
The first verse of "Follow the Gleam" speaks of knights and visions and searching for the Holy Grail. (No vampires and paranormal romance for us!) But I especially like the second verse:
And we who would serve the King,
And loyally Him obey,
In the consecrate silence know,
That the challenge still holds today.
Follow, follow, follow the gleam,
Standards of worth, o'er all the earth,
Follow, follow, follow the gleam,
Of the light that shall bring the dawn
~Helen Hill Miller, 1920
Not every light that I've encountered along my life's road has been clear and unmistakable. Some lights have been dim, often barely discernible, but because their small rays were so persistent, I could not ignore them. It took me a long time to find the right, satisfying career—I had to follow a gleam. I've made some sad mistakes while searching for the meaning of real love and genuine selfhood—but I've followed the gleam. I spent many years trying to make sense of my spiritual heritage—I am still following the gleam.
Too often, we mistakenly suppose that we will at some point late in life have the answers to "life's persistent questions." Not so. Most likely, answers to the most crucial questions will come at first as a faint understanding, a glimmer of light. Don't be discouraged. Follow it. "The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18)
Marjorie
Scripture quotation from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Still Writing
Commitment to my writing tasks is being tested! My computer has taken an unauthorized leave of absence--the victim, I think, of some online mischief. I am still doing my best to post regularly, but I will have to post my blog entries from somewhere else--maybe the library--so just be patient, please!
I used to write the first draft of everything in longhand. (There are some very famous authors who do/have done that, you know!) There were long lines of scratched-out, deathless prose; arrows pointed from here to there and back again; notes referred back to page 3 or ahead to page 5. Only I could follow those inky pages and transcribe them on my trusty portable Remington into more-or-less readable type. I may or may not have been gifted--but for sure, I was determined!
Then computers became a part of my life. I didn't own a computer; I used one at the public library or in the lab at the university where I was taking classes. "But,"I said, "I will never again type a paper on the typewriter if I can help it!" All the editing and re-writing and spell-checking and especially footnoting had become so easy!
Now I'm back to the yellow legal pad, my "wireless" pen, and a borrowed computer. And I am still determined. Having waited several decades to have a writing "voice," I won't be deterred now! You'll still be hearing from me.
Marjorie
I used to write the first draft of everything in longhand. (There are some very famous authors who do/have done that, you know!) There were long lines of scratched-out, deathless prose; arrows pointed from here to there and back again; notes referred back to page 3 or ahead to page 5. Only I could follow those inky pages and transcribe them on my trusty portable Remington into more-or-less readable type. I may or may not have been gifted--but for sure, I was determined!
Then computers became a part of my life. I didn't own a computer; I used one at the public library or in the lab at the university where I was taking classes. "But,"I said, "I will never again type a paper on the typewriter if I can help it!" All the editing and re-writing and spell-checking and especially footnoting had become so easy!
Now I'm back to the yellow legal pad, my "wireless" pen, and a borrowed computer. And I am still determined. Having waited several decades to have a writing "voice," I won't be deterred now! You'll still be hearing from me.
Marjorie
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