Welcome to the 18th issue of The Aim and Soar Life, a weekly Christian personal growth and lifestyle newsletter that provides actionable, relatable, biblically rooted content to help you live abundantly and GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Hello Friend! Happy 4th of July!!!
Have you ever felt like you weren’t living your “best life” or “living the good life”? Does it seem like other people you know are happier than you? Have you ever felt like the life you have isn’t the life you ordered?
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could go to God and get just whatever you wanted, like an order at a fast-food drive-through window? I used to think so, but I know better now. It only took me a half-century to truly understand that God knows more than me. Hey, don’t be too hard on me for being a little slow to learn my lesson.😂
If you have ever felt unhappy or discontent with your life, you don’t have to feel embarrassed or guilty. I think most honest people would admit to having the same thoughts at one time or another.
Most of our disappointment and unhappiness in our lives stem from unmet expectations.
Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having dreams or setting goals for yourself. However, you have to understand that God has the last say so and He may have um… different goals and dreams for you than you have for yourself. And His way is best.
I know it can feel like a bummer sometimes, but you can trust Him enough to surrender your wants and wishes to Him.
If you are not living the life you dreamed about or find yourself being outright angry or discontent, here are a few secrets that can help you live in the moment and enjoy your life more.
View Each Day as a Gift
Life gets hectic, and sometimes it is flat-out unfulfilling. It can seem like you are on autopilot, going to work, performing chores, raising children, wearing yourself out physically and mentally, then waking up to do it all again the next day.
Whether your everyday thorn in the side is reporting to a job that has caused you to grow weary or the reality that you can’t seem to get ahead financially, each day you wake is a blessing. It is a day you can use to create a different outcome than the previous one.
Have you ever given someone a gift that you put a lot of thought into and the person was ungrateful?
Not a good feeling.
Look at your life from God’s perspective. When your heart is full of complaints about your life, you are being ungrateful for the beautiful gift He has given.
Changing your words from: “Lord, I hate this job” to “Lord, give me the strength to do what you called me to do today,” shows maturity and gratitude.
Newsflash: God knows when we hate something. When we are so frustrated that we want to kick, scream, and cry like a two-year-old in the middle of a tantrum, He knows. We don’t have to tell Him. We can pray for a better attitude.
Viewing each day as a gift and expressing sincere appreciation to God for it, allows you to have a mindset of peace and not struggle.
I have a close friend who found herself working for a horrible boss for several years. This friend worked with self-efficacy and excellence, but her boss always seemed to find a way to intimidate, bully and make my friend’s work-life miserable, to the point of harming my friend’s health.
Instead of being nasty to her boss and gossiping about the Wicked Witch of the West (my words, not my friend’s LOL😂), my friend kept doing the great job that she has always done.
God has now blessed her with an even better position somewhere far away from the Wicked Witch of the West, with a boss most people would love to have and more cha-ching!
My friend was faithful and thankful. God blesses. View each day as a gift and thank Him for it. That attitude of gratitude brought many blessings into her life!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34, NIV
Focus on the Good in Your Life
No matter how many things are going wrong in your life, you have something to be thankful for—something that is good—maybe even great!
If your job is wearing you down and your family life isn’t so hot, focus on something positive in your life. We are all blessed with some goodness.
This past week, I was complaining to my mother about my recent health challenges, as I’ve suffered from a herniated disc with sciatica and some other health issues that have left me in pain and have hindered my mobility.
My mom stopped me in the middle of the conversation and said, “I don’t care if you can’t exercise like you want or do all the things you used to do right now, I’m just glad you are alive! That’s all that matters to me!” Perspective. Her perspective is that I’m alive and well for the most part. That is a blessing.
She’s right. Things could be a whole lot worse. I have to take time to get back to my normal and let my body heal and recover. I can’t speed up the process.
I have to do my best to stay healthy and focus on what I can do and reflect on the good in my life, like my wonderful mother, my beautiful friendships, and the writing gift God has given me to share with you!
Take some time this week to make a list of all the beautiful, wonderful things in your life, from relationships to your talents and gifts. Write them down. Thank God for them.
“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20, NIV
Spend More Time with Family and Friends
God created us to be in fellowship with one another. It’s easy to get bogged down with life and neglect our relationships with family and friends.
In my family, we recently instituted a designated family night once a month. My mother, my son, and I each live in separate homes, but we have been making time to get together and make memories at least once a month.
We’ve got a Boomer (my mom), Gen Xer (me), and a millennial (my 26-year-old son). Figuring out something that each of us can enjoy has been fun. Fun. Fun. My mom has requested that we learn to rock climb for our next adventure—she’s 72, by the way. I’m not too sold on that, (Yikes! The way my herniated disc is set up😂) but I’m willing to put the time in with those two.
People all over the country are experiencing tight financial times right now. Know that getting together doesn’t have to be a financial strain.
Institute a movie night
Have an unplugged game night—you know old school stuff like Monopoly, Life, Scrabble, Jenga, or Apples to Apples (my personal favorite).
Have a family cooking night—you can watch free videos on YouTube and try out some of the chefs’ recipes.
Have a family sleepover. Tell some stories. Camp inside.😍
Have a girls’ night/guys’ night with other Christians where you can play games, fellowship, and spend time with one another.
“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with gladness, for God has already approved what you do.” Ecclesiastes 9:7, NIV
Life has its ups and downs, but the secret to being fulfilled is having the right perspective. We can’t always change our situations, but we can change how we respond to our situations. The right perspective gives us the right attitude.
View each day as a gift, focus on the good in your life, and spend more time with family and friends.
Laugh. Enjoy. Make the time count. None of us are promised the next breath.
Meet on the web:
email: sherrhonda@sherrhondadenice.com
Until Next Time,
GROW YOU. GOD’S WAY.
Sherrhonda😍
Yes!!! We need to learn to be grateful for all our blessings!!! This was right on time❤️