We were given 5 of the most common things that can drive our life as we are all driven by something. They are guilt, resentment and anger, fear, materialism and finally the need for approval from other people. There are other forces but they all lead to the same dead end - the book shows us how to live a life guided and controlled by God's purpose.
I realise that if I continue to quote from the book and give out the exercises at the end of each chapter I will be in breach of copyright so I intend just to write down my thoughts after reading each chapter.
The driving force in my life has been fear. I tend to play it safe, I am also in fear of repercussions if I don't do something I feel I should.
I want to avoid guilt by all means so that is one of the driving forces.
I also need the approval of others and this is a driving force to such an extent that I can make myself ill thinking about what other people think of actions I have or not done or things I have said or not said.
On the reverse side, sometimes my feelings of anger and resentment towards someone can cause me not to do something and this can override the otherwise feelings of guilt or fear that would normally kick in. I have just realised this!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Day 2 You are not an accident
God is not haphazard and he delibrately made me the way I am for a reason. So instead of railing against the things I cannot accept about myself I will embrace them becouse God loves and values me as I am .
Point to Ponder - I am not an accident
Verse to remember - "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born Isaiah" 44:2.
Question to consider - I know that God uniquely created me. What area of my personality, background and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
I am very happy with my background now that I am older and realise all the benefits I have received from my parents, education, community and friends.
Regarding my physical appearance I am struggling with my weight but that is of my own making. I don't like having to wear glasses (but am pleased I have glasses to wear) and I don't like going grey and having to dye it every month. Petty things really.
My personality - I struggle with the fact that that I always have a downer on myself, I don't feel good enough, I feel I lack discipline regarding some matters, that I do not persevere and am easily discouraged. I can think of more but that is enough to be going on with .
Point to Ponder - I am not an accident
Verse to remember - "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born Isaiah" 44:2.
Question to consider - I know that God uniquely created me. What area of my personality, background and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?
I am very happy with my background now that I am older and realise all the benefits I have received from my parents, education, community and friends.
Regarding my physical appearance I am struggling with my weight but that is of my own making. I don't like having to wear glasses (but am pleased I have glasses to wear) and I don't like going grey and having to dye it every month. Petty things really.
My personality - I struggle with the fact that that I always have a downer on myself, I don't feel good enough, I feel I lack discipline regarding some matters, that I do not persevere and am easily discouraged. I can think of more but that is enough to be going on with .
Friday, September 11, 2009
Purpose driven life
I have started to read "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren.
At the beginning it says that the 40 day spiritual journey will enable me to discover the answer to life's most important question - what am I here for? I will know God's purpose for my life and I will understand how all the pieces fit together. This hopefully will reduce my stress, simplify my decisions, increase my satisfaction and most important - prepare me for eternity.
Day 1
The point to ponder is "It's not all about me"
The verse to remember is "All things were created through him......and he holds all things in unity" Col 1:16.
The question to consider is "In spite of all the advertising around - how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself ?"
Everytime I see something I want to buy or to have, it is because I think it will make me look good, look fashionable, give me more esteem, make me look as good as others and prove I have good taste !!! Sometimes I think it will help me and be useful ( that's the practical side of me).
When I get it home it often doesn't get used, sometimes I don't really like it after all, I don't wear it, I want to take it back, it clogs up my cupboards and it doesn't make me any happier.
So it is not about me - to remind myself of this I would like to look at all the things, thank God for them and all the work that has gone into them. I will remind myself that in the end it will pass, go out of fashion, get broken, damaged or dumped. Things cannot make me happy.
At the beginning it says that the 40 day spiritual journey will enable me to discover the answer to life's most important question - what am I here for? I will know God's purpose for my life and I will understand how all the pieces fit together. This hopefully will reduce my stress, simplify my decisions, increase my satisfaction and most important - prepare me for eternity.
Day 1
The point to ponder is "It's not all about me"
The verse to remember is "All things were created through him......and he holds all things in unity" Col 1:16.
The question to consider is "In spite of all the advertising around - how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself ?"
Everytime I see something I want to buy or to have, it is because I think it will make me look good, look fashionable, give me more esteem, make me look as good as others and prove I have good taste !!! Sometimes I think it will help me and be useful ( that's the practical side of me).
When I get it home it often doesn't get used, sometimes I don't really like it after all, I don't wear it, I want to take it back, it clogs up my cupboards and it doesn't make me any happier.
So it is not about me - to remind myself of this I would like to look at all the things, thank God for them and all the work that has gone into them. I will remind myself that in the end it will pass, go out of fashion, get broken, damaged or dumped. Things cannot make me happy.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Last day at work
I handed in my notice and I left work for the last time on Tuesday 8 th Sept.
I felt really emotional as no one knew I was leaving until about 2hrs before I actually left - I did give a month's notice but I had so much holiday to take that I could leave almost the day after.
To say I took people by surprise is an understatement and I really intended to go without much fuss or rather I feared that people wouldn't be bothered so if I went suddenly they would have an excuse not to make a special effort to say their goodbyes.
Now I feel really awful about it as they had a quick whip round and gave me quite a large amount of cash plus some flowers and cards. A friend later said I was running away and in retrospect I was running away and I did go about leaving the wrong way.
I have just read an article and it is very good. I wish I had read this before I left as I answered no to all of the questions and I have just realised these are the reasons I left but could'nt verbalise them.
The Happiness Project:
"This is a good list to use if you’re a manager who wants to create a happier and more productive work environment, or if you’re a job seeker/holder who wants criteria by which to judge a workplace.
Also, if you’re not happy at work, and you’re trying to Identify the problem, take a look at this list. It suggests strategies for improving your situation. Not everything is within your control, of course, but perhaps you could identify for your boss what you need to change #2 from “no” to “yes” or to shift responsibilities so you get #3. Or can you make an effort to gain #10?
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work? [But don’t have an office affair!]
11. In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?
The first six questions have the strongest links to business outcomes (productivity, profitability, retention, and customer satisfaction)."
I don't feel I have made the wrong decision about leaving work but I think I could have made it less stressful.
I want to have a happy life with purpose and this is the time to start.
Perhaps I can be truthful and share how I manage to achieve this. I need to overcome an awful lot of negative talk, lack of confidence and lack of discipline.
I felt really emotional as no one knew I was leaving until about 2hrs before I actually left - I did give a month's notice but I had so much holiday to take that I could leave almost the day after.
To say I took people by surprise is an understatement and I really intended to go without much fuss or rather I feared that people wouldn't be bothered so if I went suddenly they would have an excuse not to make a special effort to say their goodbyes.
Now I feel really awful about it as they had a quick whip round and gave me quite a large amount of cash plus some flowers and cards. A friend later said I was running away and in retrospect I was running away and I did go about leaving the wrong way.
I have just read an article and it is very good. I wish I had read this before I left as I answered no to all of the questions and I have just realised these are the reasons I left but could'nt verbalise them.
The Happiness Project:
"This is a good list to use if you’re a manager who wants to create a happier and more productive work environment, or if you’re a job seeker/holder who wants criteria by which to judge a workplace.
Also, if you’re not happy at work, and you’re trying to Identify the problem, take a look at this list. It suggests strategies for improving your situation. Not everything is within your control, of course, but perhaps you could identify for your boss what you need to change #2 from “no” to “yes” or to shift responsibilities so you get #3. Or can you make an effort to gain #10?
1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seem to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel like my work is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work? [But don’t have an office affair!]
11. In the last six months, have I talked with someone about my progress?
12. This last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?
The first six questions have the strongest links to business outcomes (productivity, profitability, retention, and customer satisfaction)."
I don't feel I have made the wrong decision about leaving work but I think I could have made it less stressful.
I want to have a happy life with purpose and this is the time to start.
Perhaps I can be truthful and share how I manage to achieve this. I need to overcome an awful lot of negative talk, lack of confidence and lack of discipline.
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