Living abundantly is a gift. It comes when you’re aligned with God’s purpose, His will. Your life takes on a whole new dynamic. Are you ready for it?

True joy is not a by-product of getting what we want; if you aren’t happy now, getting that person, place or thing may bring happy, but it won’t last. I always thought if only I could….have this, that whatever (or whoever), then, and only then would I really be happy.

But no, it either turned out to be a disaster or left me wanting for more or different.

It was only by the long, difficult process of allowing God to transform my thinking and become clear about how I saw myself through His eyes–my true self– did I begin to experience true fulfillment and joy.

It wasn’t easy. When I gave up the security of a career for a life I knew that I knew I was called to, I struggled with the financial insecurity, the doubts of whether I was fit enough for the task, and if it was really God’s purpose for me. I had already invested many years and an enormous amount of money in education to secure a position in my chosen field.

We were all created God’s purpose–and when you’re in the flow it, there is no place you’d rather be. Aligned with your core values (how God designed you), you begin to find true “happiness” (joy).

Living abundantly is a gift. It comes when you’re aligned with God’s purpose, His will. Your life takes on a whole new dynamic.

Your happiness is not driven by externals. You are happy because you know who you are and where you’re going.

 As I let go of the fear and insecurity of the unknown, it got a little crazy. Why? Because it was unfamiliar. I was out of my comfort zone. As I have settled into the unknown and fulfilled life, God has been faithful to show me that all is well even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Take a few moments to think about what’s most important to you. Write down your top five to ten values. Then answer these three questions:

1. Are you living in alignment with your values? Does what you say is important resonate with your daily actions? 
2. Is there something you want to accomplish that may take some time and you don’t know how to get to it?
3. How would it feel to know that you’re living true to you; in alignment with God?

The key to freedom and abundant life (John 10:10) is surrender and commitment. Surrendering to God’s will and committing to living aligned with it.

When you’re in this zone, there is nowhere else you’d rather be. And with it comes the vision of all you ever imagined. (Ephesians 3:20)

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!

So, are you living true to your values, in alignment with God’s purpose? Let me know.

 

Get off the Hamster Wheel!
#TakeBackYourLife
https://callYolanda.as.me/

On the journey to taking back my life, I discovered that while I thought I was looking good and doing pretty well, I was, in fact heading for a fall.

The truth about what was really happening in my life presented itself in various ways. When I could no longer hide behind the carefully-constructed image of who I wanted you to see, my relationships, my work, my finances, my life began to suffer.

Self-gratification–immediate satisfaction, with no long-range focus. There was a long, long time of hurt behind the actions that were part of my low self-esteem.

Everything I did was to make me look good or feel good.

When I was engaging in temporary ways to find pleasure or to soothe and comfort me from pain—mostly emotional–I was anxious and depressed all the time. That’s what happens when we operate from ego and low self-esteem. Our focus is always on right here, right now.

My beliefs–the false and unhealthy ones–protected me from having to do what was right–what God wanted for me. I could rationalize and justify any behavior.

Learning right thoughts, right action, right behavior; finally living with a new perspective changed my entire life! A lifetime of living with low self-esteem, fear, and addiction called for a new way of living.

How did this happen? First, I had to hit the proverbial bottom. I had to get into enough pain to see that how I was living wasn’t working.  Hopeless-and wanting-to-die pain.

Then I had to get help because I didn’t know how to change.

“We are called to live the truth of our uniqueness.” David Benner

When I finally let down my guard, got honest, hope came in. The mentors, spiritual guides, and others who God brought to me through His grace helped me heal and I finally learned how to “live out loud”—be me.

Authentically, confidentially. I learned how to love myself and others.

It’s been over 30 years since the journey began. And, sometimes I still want to do what I want to do instead of what’s right. And I suffer major consequences in my body, mind, and spirit when I give in to instant gratification.

I don’t ever want to go back to the way it was. When you have high self-esteem, your confidence is high. You know how to handle the setbacks in life.  I work at this every day. I have learned what I need to do to live the “higher life”.

And, it’s the reason I do what I do–working with women to show them how to get out of the trap of feeling anxious, hopeless, wallowing in low self-esteem.

We work together to get them on the path to their best and true selves. And a beautiful life in the uniqueness of God’s creation.

Is it time to Take Back Your Life? Say yes to you today. The good stuff is waiting for you.