What Are You Holding Onto?

You ever sit and allow your thoughts to take over? I mean reflective thoughts. Thoughts that help you see things clearly. Over the last few days, I have found myself in intentional reflective spaces where my thoughts have allowed me to hone in on what I am feeling, experiencing and expecting in my life. One thought that has continued to surface is similar to Marshall Goldsmith’s What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

During my daily devotions, I spend intentional time with God to further my understanding of who He is and who He says I am. Even more, I intentionally ask Him to continue to help me grow; to transform my mind so that I align myself with His will. When I initially prayed for this, I was not paying attention to what was happening in my life. Our society encourages us to always stay moving and I have gotten in the habit of doing just that, so things were happening in my life that I had asked for but was not paying attention to their manifestation.

A few days ago, I began to realize what was happening - I was being transformed. What had gotten me to and through certain places in my life was no long going to get me to and through the next chapter. There were thoughts and behaviors that I began to reflect on as to whether they would provide me to plant seeds for a fruitful season, or if they would plant seeds but in toxic soil. God began to reveal to me that what I had developed as survival skills were no longer necessary for the season He is getting ready to transition me into. And when I realized this, I saw my mother’s face affirming that I was catching on to something.

I have said this before and will continue to say it often, we spend our lives moving so quickly that we do not take time to reflect on what we are doing. I was so eager to focus on my career that I was not spending time with my family. I lost my mother in 2010 but still have my father, three brothers, three sisters, both grandfathers, three uncles, two aunts, a great aunt, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. I have missed birthdays, weddings, and graduations. In my love life, I have not taken the time to figure out what it means to be in a relationship with myself for someone else to know the same. Even more, I began to set unsustainable expectations for myself and others. The survival skills I had developed sustained me for a little, but they began to produce fewer fruitful harvests.

As I enjoy the season that I am in and prepare myself for the season to come, I remind myself that purging the purging of people and things are good, but so is the purging of toxic behaviors and habits. We hold onto behaviors and habits because they helped us in a particular season where they were needed. The issue comes when we did not abandon those habits and behaviors at that season.

I want to encourage you to assess where you are in your life. What behaviors and habits are you hold onto that no longer bear fruit in your life. What did you develop to sustain you through a difficult situation that you are still holding onto? How are you preparing yourself for your next season?

Live Boldly, Courageous & Free!

Live your Sankofa Xperience.

Z!