Morning Mindset...
Over the years, it has occurred to me that in order to live the life I long to live, I have a responsibility to prepare in order for that to happen. One of my friends says, "Preparation leads to Presence". He was speaking in terms of programming for weekend services noticing that when he prepares in advance and works hard to get ready, that by the time the weekend rolls around, he is able to lean into life with more ease and be present. On the contrary, when he doesn't plan and prepare well, he's noticed a more frenetic and chaotic experience which leads to a stressful--instead of a successful--existence. Preparation proceeds presence.
I call it the "Ready, Set, Go" of life or the "Morning Mindset". For me setting aside time to posture my heart--to ready my heart--so that I can get set--that is to form and inform my mindset--allows me to go with a sense of power and purpose. If I go without getting ready and getting set, I have little chance of living out a deliberate and intentional life. It will be more reactionary and less proactive. More life happening to me and less me happening to life.
Which leads to a "Morning Mindset". Each day...specifically Monday through Friday for me, I try to set aside time at the onset of the day to write out prayers, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, creeds, dreams, verses, stories etc. Things that become scaffolding for the life I'm seeking to construct. I stand on this scaffolding as the day unfolds, reminding myself of the things I believe are real regardless of how I feel. They can be short phrases or longer fleshed-out ideas. Either way, they are positive and true and real and personal and simple in nature. These words become worlds. These words become verbs is another way of saying it.
So here are a few that are surfacing in my spirit at the beginning of this day:
I can best locate my heart through the latitude of communion with God and the longitude of community with people. Where those crisscross I feel a sense of "You are here." I can't find that alone with God exclusively or just with people exclusively...it is the beautiful blending of both that gives me a sense of centering out of which flows a strength of presence.
I am mortal and immortal. I am flesh and spirit. I am a spirit with a body, not a body with a spirit. Life is equally physiological and psychological. My body needs my brain to be healthy, my brain needs my body to be healthy. They are not warring against each other, they are reliant on each other for ultimate health and quality of life. One is not more important than the other is what I'm trying to say.
I do not have to capitulate to the "spirit of the age" that says strength is strength. The Word of God says that "when I am weak, then I am strong" and that "God's strength is made perfect in my weakness". This is freeing when you consider that vulnerability is actually one of our greatest weapons against the darkness. The better relationship I have with my weaknesses, the more I'll be able to relax when life requires me to do something I'm not good at or be someone I'm not naturally bent to be. In that sense, pressure caused by inadequacy can become a platform of influence.
________________
Just a few things that I wanted to put into words. It takes the marbles of my mind and moves them from mind-games to mind-frames. I believe that thoughts become things...so what things am I thinking about? If I'm not thinking about the right things or thinking about things right, I can change my mind. I can change my mind! That is the agency I have as a human that makes me human. I'm not a slave to instincts like an animal, I'm can control my cravings and aim them toward a preferred target. Remember, "Ready, Aim, Fire." - "Ready, Set, Go." Animals don't process through this three-step paradigm. They just go. I can get ready and aim. That free will is the gift of God to the human race...the most powerful gift we possess. What will we do with it?
I call it the "Ready, Set, Go" of life or the "Morning Mindset". For me setting aside time to posture my heart--to ready my heart--so that I can get set--that is to form and inform my mindset--allows me to go with a sense of power and purpose. If I go without getting ready and getting set, I have little chance of living out a deliberate and intentional life. It will be more reactionary and less proactive. More life happening to me and less me happening to life.
Which leads to a "Morning Mindset". Each day...specifically Monday through Friday for me, I try to set aside time at the onset of the day to write out prayers, thoughts, ideas, beliefs, creeds, dreams, verses, stories etc. Things that become scaffolding for the life I'm seeking to construct. I stand on this scaffolding as the day unfolds, reminding myself of the things I believe are real regardless of how I feel. They can be short phrases or longer fleshed-out ideas. Either way, they are positive and true and real and personal and simple in nature. These words become worlds. These words become verbs is another way of saying it.
So here are a few that are surfacing in my spirit at the beginning of this day:
I can best locate my heart through the latitude of communion with God and the longitude of community with people. Where those crisscross I feel a sense of "You are here." I can't find that alone with God exclusively or just with people exclusively...it is the beautiful blending of both that gives me a sense of centering out of which flows a strength of presence.
I am mortal and immortal. I am flesh and spirit. I am a spirit with a body, not a body with a spirit. Life is equally physiological and psychological. My body needs my brain to be healthy, my brain needs my body to be healthy. They are not warring against each other, they are reliant on each other for ultimate health and quality of life. One is not more important than the other is what I'm trying to say.
I do not have to capitulate to the "spirit of the age" that says strength is strength. The Word of God says that "when I am weak, then I am strong" and that "God's strength is made perfect in my weakness". This is freeing when you consider that vulnerability is actually one of our greatest weapons against the darkness. The better relationship I have with my weaknesses, the more I'll be able to relax when life requires me to do something I'm not good at or be someone I'm not naturally bent to be. In that sense, pressure caused by inadequacy can become a platform of influence.
________________
Just a few things that I wanted to put into words. It takes the marbles of my mind and moves them from mind-games to mind-frames. I believe that thoughts become things...so what things am I thinking about? If I'm not thinking about the right things or thinking about things right, I can change my mind. I can change my mind! That is the agency I have as a human that makes me human. I'm not a slave to instincts like an animal, I'm can control my cravings and aim them toward a preferred target. Remember, "Ready, Aim, Fire." - "Ready, Set, Go." Animals don't process through this three-step paradigm. They just go. I can get ready and aim. That free will is the gift of God to the human race...the most powerful gift we possess. What will we do with it?
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