Going Through The Motions

READY8 “I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, ‘What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?’” ~ lyrics from Matthew West’s song “The Motions”

AIM8 Do you ever feel like your life is on autopilot? Like you’re just going through the motions? What happens that makes us feel that way? Sometimes our life gets into such a familiar routine that we forget to enjoy the scenery along the journey. Can you pinpoint when you are just going through the motions? Are you giving everything 100% or are you satisfied with half best efforts and intentions?

At work, make a conscious effort to bring your A-game every day. Go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to make yourself an indispensible employee. In this day and age, you need to find your niche and create ways to secure your paycheck. What do you bring to your business? If you are not currently working in a career you have always wanted for yourself, start looking for avenues to change directions and get on the path of purpose for your life. You are never too old and it is never too late to do what you’ve always dreamed of doing.

At home, tackle the mundane tasks first and then you can finally put away the ‘honey-do’ list or move on to other more enjoyable projects. Make changes in your daily schedule to incorporate some play time or “me” time. Try this…dig out the big blankets and dining room chairs and build forts with your children; be sure to make microware s’mores together. Get the whole family together to play games on the Wii – kid’s choice only! You can enjoy sipping a cup of coffee or tea while watching your favorite show, dance in your living room to your favorite songs for a little extra exercise or snuggle with your sweetheart while he enjoys watching the big game. Little changes at home offer big results in family connections.

With friends, take time to recognize the connections you have with people who mean the most to you. Are your friendships on autopilot? Take her chicken noodle soup and ginger ale when she’s sick, offer to help change the oil or rotate the tires on his wife’s mini-van or invite another family to share pizza and game night with your family. You will reaffirm his or her efforts in your life and solidify your relationship.

If you find that a few of those simple suggestions aren’t enough, I suggest you sit down and re-evaluate where you are spending the majority of your time during the week and how you can take your involvement to the next level. As Zig Ziglar says, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” So start identifying ways you can help other people in your home, at your place of work, and in your extra-curricular activities. Usually, it doesn’t really take much effort or many changes to bless someone else in simple ways. Soon you will feel better about yourself and begin to see that you are no longer just going through the motions in life, you are truly enjoying the ride.

FIRE!8 It’s easy to get into the autopilot mode. Look at the various roles you play in your day. Where do you see yourself using cruise control? Take 20 minutes a day and turn off the cruise—see what God may have in store for you.

Be Excellent!
Lori