I suppose it's that time of year where I give my readers a peppy post about all the wonderfully healthy things you should do in the next 12 months. The truth is, however, I don't always feel peppy. Peppy has certainly not been a word that my family would use to describe me lately, especially over the past few months. Every year, I try to focus on an area of my life that might need to improve, and this year it's an aspect of health that is new for me to think about: emotional health.
While I may share some personal info on this in future posts, I am no expert in this area. However, I do believe that so much of what we do to be healthy (or what we do that is unhealthy) is connected with how we are doing emotionally. For now, I will simply share 2 thoughts on this issue:
- Fight the urge to compare! There are times I feel pretty good about life until I see someone else's life. I feel healthy until my friend tells me about her diet. I am satisfied with my fitness level until I see what others are posting on Facebook. I feel confident until she gets the compliment. When I get into the rut of constant comparison, then I struggle greatly. That is not how I want to live in 2015.
- Find Joy in the right thing. Not in your weight loss. Not in the looks you get at the food store. Not in the miles you logged last week. Not in your organic refrigerator and pantry. Find joy in something that is not a fad and will stand the test of time. For me, I find joy in knowing that I am loved by the God of the universe.
On our Christmas cards that were just sent out, we wrote this from John 10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." We all have heard the song lyrics, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come," and that is exactly what I need to be reflecting on to find my joy. Jesus came to me because I would never be able to make it to him on my own. I don't need to be comparing myself to others when I realize how I have been given life "to the full" because of what Christ has done for me.
As you think about what your goals will be for 2015, join me in fighting the urge to be constantly comparing, because that is a tactic the thief will use to steal your joy.