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May 20 2019

The Struggle For Authenticity

Welcome back my friend! How has your week been? Did you have an opportunity to download and use the Attitude of Gratitude Mind Map from last week? If not, get it today! Would love to hear from you – how is life going, what is working, what is not working, what conversations do you want to have here in this space? This week, in this time we have together, I want to talk about what we are actually hiding from in our struggle to live our authentic life.

Not Hidden

The Lord knew us before the foundation of time (Ephesians 1:4). Nothing about us is hidden from His sight or His knowledge (Psalm 139). We have been created with a plan and a purpose and the very desires of our heart were placed within us by the Father (Psalm 37). We are intimately and expressly known. There is nothing about us that we can gloss over or hide with the Lord.

So, if we are clear that we can’t actually hide from the Lord, when we are struggling to live our authentic life, what or who are we are actually hiding from? What is your experience with this question?

Mirrored Judgments

We sometimes believe we are hiding from those around us. We struggle to live our authentic life primarily out of fear of the judgement of others. I would argue, however, that this is surface concern. The fear of the judgement of others in our lives, when drilled down to its core is that the judgement of others mirrors the very judgments we ourselves carry deep within us. These judgments are not new or unfamiliar and hold very little power over us as they are the very judgments that reside within us.

If we are clear that the judgments of those around us hold no power over us as they are not any different from what we carry within ourselves, when we are struggling to live our authentic life, what or who are we are actually hiding from? What is your experience with this question?

Hiding From Ourselves

It has been my experience that sometimes when I think I am hiding from the Lord, or those around me, I am actually hiding from myself. My inability to stay authentic has a tendency to come from a place of not being willing to admit, to myself, where I am. That unwillingness to acknowledge my current position is often related to my discomfort at looking directly at the distance between where I am and where I know I need/want to be.

Comfort

We are creatures of comfort and habit. We like to wear that comfy sweater, the one that fits just right, long after the cuffs are beyond well worn. Those shoes, the ones that mold perfectly to our feet; we do everything in our power to continue to wear them long past their natural expiry date. Comfort is what it is all about. For most of us habits are comfortable. The things we do naturally and with ease, often without even thinking about it, are the things we gravitate toward. They fit like that comfy sweater and they mold to our lives like those perfect shoes.

However, in order for me to step out into authenticity, really step out, I have to be willing to look at those places of comfort and acknowledge not only their presence but also their power in my life.

Discomfort

In doing this, it is a real possibility that discomfort will result; with stepping outside my comfort zone, even if only in my thoughts. Discomfort with the realization that there is a space between where I find myself and where I believe or even know I need to be. That discomfort which comes as I begin to make decisions; a decision to stay in my comfort zone and deny the destiny ahead of me or a decision to move out of that comfort zone into the unknown.

Priorities

I have to get to a place in my life where comfort is not my ultimate priority, acknowledging and accepting that discomfort will come regardless of whether I choose to grow or choose to become stagnant. When I begin to acknowledge and accept discomfort as a normal and expected piece of the puzzle of growth, I will find myself more willing to stop hiding from myself. When I no longer feel the need to hide from myself, there will be no struggle to live my authentic life. I will actively and easily make the daily decision to walk in authenticity.

Honesty = Authenticity= No Struggle To Live Our Authentic Life

If we can get to this place of being totally honest in this relationship with ourselves, authenticity in the other relationships in our lives will flow naturally.

How Do We Get There?

So how do we get to this place? This place of freedom and courage to look directly at ourselves, knowing that there will be discomfort and a need for decision making?

Where We Are vs Where We Are Going

Maybe it would help if we understood how the Lord sees us. He knows where we are but He sees us the way He has created us to be. The Lord, right from the beginning had a vision of who we were created to be. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Like any great artist, the Lord had a clear plan and purpose for us and a vision of us in His mind. As He continues to mold and shape us, although He is aware of the stage we are currently in, His focus is always ahead at the finished product. The Lord sees us, whole and complete in Him, walking out the entirety of our purpose and destiny.

How We See Ourselves

When we look at ourselves, we often focus on the stage we find ourselves in. We are neither completed nor perfected; we are rough around the edges and without our final coat of paint. We are often harsh on ourselves, not granting ourselves grace as a work in progress but rather expecting perfection where perfection can’t yet exist. This judgement leads to the fear that God will be unhappy with us where we are and that others around us will hold up a mirror that reveals the very judgments we struggle with, within ourselves.

How We Need to See Ourselves

If we could only learn to see ourselves as God sees us. A piece of art, in progress, neither completed nor perfected; rough around the edges and without our final coat of paint; but still beautiful and closer today to where we are going than we were yesterday. If only we could receive the love of God that is aware of where we are but sees us where we are going; that reckless and inexplicable love the Creator has for His unique creation.

Walking in that love, we would be more than eager to look directly at ourselves, assess our progress, and make the necessary adjustments, all the while looking eagerly ahead as what is yet to come. Authenticity would flow naturally in our lives and we would be more than pleased to encourage that same authenticity in the lives of those around us.

Where Are You?

What is your experience with the struggle to live authentically? Are you hiding from God? Perhaps the judgement of those around you feels powerful in your life because you don’t yet understand that those judgments only mirror your own. Maybe you fear looking directly at who/where you are because comfort is still a priority in your life and habits still have the power to keep you stagnant. Who are you really hiding from in your struggle to live authentically?

What I Know!

We are all walking a similar journey. If we could find grace for ourselves, we would find grace for those around us. You may encounter discomfort but you can get to a point where your desire for growth outweighs your need for the comfort of staying the same.

Take a Look!

I dare you to take a look! Where are you today and where are you going? What is your next step? The journey is full of valleys and mountains, a few meadows and some streams with only stepping stones, but I know you can do it!

If you are interested in more Devotional reading, head over to my Facebook Page where you will find a Weekly Devotion early every Monday morning. Click the button below to go directly to the Weekly Devotions.

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

laurie

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May 13 2019

Life and Life More Abundantly

Hello again! I continue to be amazed at how quickly time passes – it feels like it was only Monday yesterday and yet, here we are again! How has your week been? Did you have an opportunity to download the Meaning Of Authenticity Printable worksheet from last week? Be in touch and share what you have learned about authenticity and about yourself! When we share we solidify the learning in ourselves and we also encourage learning in those we share with. Since learning and sharing is what we do here, let’s dig into another piece of the puzzle; life and life more abundantly!

Abundance - Quantity Vs Quality

When you hear the word abundance, what do you think of? Many people automatically think of abundance in terms of finances or material belongings. It is often equated with having a large number of “things. I would love to see the day when abundance begins to be identified in terms of having moments and experiences. As we begin to live our journey from a more authentic place we will begin to move away from a quantity view of abundance to a quality view of abundance.

Abundance Is...

When you think of abundance what immediately comes to mind? Be honest. It is important to understand where we are currently in order to change our thinking on where we are going. For many years, I can honestly say, I didn’t even think in terms of abundance. I felt so stuck in the midst of my mental illness and my journey that I couldn’t apply the term to my life in any shape or form.

Quantity

When I did start thinking about abundance in relation to my life, I began from that place of quantity. In that time, I had many things in relation to work, friends, relationships, and belongings. I could start seeing a thread of abundance in my life. The problem with that thread was that it ran thin and dry in short order. I discovered that I really wasn’t any happier, more content or better off for the quantity of things I had identified in my life. I still felt stuck.

Validity

At that time I even questioned the validity, as a Christian, of seeking an abundant life. Was that what I was supposed to be doing? Did the Lord intend that I would spend time seeking out things? In light of the dry, thin line that resulted, what was the point?

Life and Life More Abundantly

The Scriptures, though, spoke very clearly about abundant life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I understood that Jesus came so I could not just have life, but have it more abundantly; and I wanted everything He had for me. In order for me to have the abundant life He came to give me, I would need to figure out what abundance looked like.

One Hundred Thousand Blessings

In June of 2013 I began an intentional journey to live the abundant life I knew I already had but couldn’t quite put my finger on or put into words. I began my blog, One Hundred Thousand Blessings. This is what I wrote at the very beginning of it all:

“Why One Hundred Thousand Blessings? Why a blog?

As I walk through yet another valley in my journey through life, I find myself in a season of blessing and thanksgiving. Odd, you may think….how can one be in the valley and be blessed? What I’ve come to learn as I enter my 39th year is that I’ve been looking at things from a distorted perspective.

Aiming for the mountaintop has left me weary and disillusioned – striving to attain, gain and maintain. But in His gentle voice and by the leading of His gentle hand, my Heavenly Father has been showing me that my life is a valley life peppered with occasional trips, with Him, to the mountaintop. The valley may sometimes feel narrow, confining, limiting, BUT……when I’m in the valley I walk more closely with the Lord, my Beloved. And it is in that walk, that relationship, that He has begun to show me that the valley is lush, cool, vibrant and full of unexpected blessings.

Perhaps unexpected because my eyes have become blinded with want and have failed to see the One Hundred Thousand Blessings that cross my path each day.

So, welcome to my journey through a Season of unexpected blessings and thanksgiving.

So although I didn’t quite know where I was heading, my very intentional journey to see the blessings in my life led to a most wonderful discovery of the path to abundance.

Quality

In time, I began to understand that quantity had nothing to do with abundance. Abundance couldn’t be determined via numbers of any kind. Rather, abundance was determined in each moment by the quality of the experience at hand. Sometimes it was as simple as stopping to look at a pretty blossom that had pushed its way up through the rocks. The number of moments was never as important as the level of appreciation and impact that the moment had on my everyday life. The other important piece I learned about abundance was that it was directly related to how fully I gave myself to the moment or the experience. When fully engaged, the level of impact and the length of that impact multiplied exponentially.

Where Are You Today?

Where are you on this journey to abundant life?

Are you at the stuck point where abundance is only a word for other people?

Perhaps you can speak about abundance in your life, but when you do, it comes from a place of quantity.

You might be at the point where you are questioning whether God even intends for you to be seeking abundance.

Maybe you have latched onto John 10:10 as the promise it is – that you were called to life and life more abundant.

You may already be on the journey to discovering the quality of moments and experiences in your life; already beginning to understand what abundance can look like and that it can be walked out in the everyday of life.

No matter where you find yourself today there is a way forward.

For those who are seeking, latch onto the path of others to find your hope.

To those who are part way there, I say, “keep trekking”.

Those of you who are well on your way, take the time to stop and share your journey with others.

We never quite understand the impact our story can have on those around us. Our words may be the light for the next step on the path that someone else needs to take. The story we share may be the hand that reaches out and carries someone else into the journey. Sharing allows us to be real, with ourselves and with others and encourages authentic living.

My Desire for You!

It continues to be my desire to seek out the blessings in my life that are all around me, every day, in the valley, as well as on the mountain top. It is also my desire to share my story and be the light and the hand in this journey that encourages others to take the first step and then the next step. Abundant living takes courage. It takes courage because it comes from a place of authenticity. Being real takes courage because it requires being willing to step outside of the box that others, and we, have placed ourselves in. Today if you feel like you don’t have the courage to take that first step, that’s OK. I have that courage for you and I will believe in you until you are able to believe in yourself!

What's Next?

Take a step. One small step will eventually lead to an entire journey! Start by becoming more aware of the blessings in your life. Put them in writing and when the days are hard you can go back and look at the things that are going well and the many blessings you can be thankful for.

Click on the highlighted words to download your free AttitudeofGratitudeMindMap to help record your journey.

What I Know

Are you ready to tackle abundant living? The journey will be filled with valleys and mountains and rocks and flowers, but I can promise you, it will be all worth it. I have walked the valleys and stood high on the mountain peaks and the views, from either angle, are breathtaking!

Until Next Time

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

laurie

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May 6 2019

The Authentic Life

Good Morning, Good Morning! It is hard to believe it is a week already since we’ve been together. How has your week been? What challenges and victories have you had this week? Are you feeling very grateful for anything? It is important to take a moment here and there and reflect a bit. Life moves fast and when we don’t take the moment to anchor the time it slips like fine sand through our fingers.

Longing for An Authentic Life?

Do you long for an authentic life? Have you been hiding behind elaborate masks and behind beautifully crafted garments? Has it wearied you? What does having an authentic life even mean? Practically, in an everyday sort of way, what does it look like?

Words Matter

We often use words loosely and without really considering what they mean. Words can often become “fads”. There is a tendency to throw words around carelessly without considering the full meaning inherent within the word and therefore its power in our lives.

The word authentic just means real, genuine, not fake, verifiable, and original. Authenticity then is just the act of being real, genuine, not fake, verifiable, and original.

But the word authenticity carries a lot more weight than the sum of the words that define it. Why? Because our ability to be real, genuine, not fake, verifiable, and original is highly influenced by the culture around us. The word may be easily defined, but because of the pressures surrounding it, not so easily described or accomplished in a practical sense.

What About You?

Do you feel authentic? Are you living your authentic life? How are you measuring that? If you are like me, you may find those questions difficult to answer. The answer probably depends on the day, the circumstances and the people you are with.

We live in a society that cries out for authentic living but discourages the realness that comes with authenticity. We are encouraged to put out best foot forward, put our best pictures on social media, talk only about our accomplishments and deal with “the things we are working on” on our own time and in private. When asked “how are you?” we most often allow the question to barely graze us on a superficial level, responding “I’m good, fine, wonderful, all is well” without letting the question ever touch the deeper recesses of our thoughts and allowing a “real” answer.

Authenticity for Me

The first step to true authentic living is to understand what authenticity means to you in a practical way. For me authenticity means:

-the inside Laurie matches the outside Laurie at all times, no matter the setting, the circumstances or the people. = REAL

-I say what I mean and I mean what I say. = GENUINE

– I am hones about who I am, how I feel and what I believe. = NOT FAKE

-I am consistent in my behaviours – across circumstances and people. = VERIFIABLE

-I want to be the unique me I have been created to be – I’m not trying to be someone else or live someone else’s life. = ORIGINAL

Authenticity for You

What does authenticity mean to you? Take some time to sit and think about it and write it out. Click the download button below for a worksheet to write out your thoughts.

This is Authenticity!

There was a time when I spent all my time and energy crafting an elaborate “authentic” front that covered up the real, genuine, original me. It was exhausting and caused me great anxiety and disconnect within myself and with others. I have since made the decision to really get to know the inside Laurie better so that I can accurately reflect her on the outside. I haven’t “arrived” yet, but I’m working on it. That is authenticity!

Are you ready to take on the journey to authentic living? Stick with me, I’ve already seen some of the scenery and I can promise you the ride will be amazing!

If you are interested in some more Devotional reading, head over to my Facebook Page where you will find a Weekly Devotion early every Monday morning. Click the button below to do directly to the Weekly Devotions!

Until next time,

From my heart to yours!

laurie

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