Areas of growth

[Pilgrim]

Michael got me thinking about how I tend to journal my failures but very rarely do I post my growth areas. I thought this might be a beneficial post to us all if we take a few moments to think of how we've grown in... let's say, the last year.

How I've grown this year:

I'm REALLY beginning to realize that how I respond or don't respond has nothing to do with the choices other people make in life.
I'm able to SAY what's on my mind without fear of the other person running out the door and using (see above)
I can sit quietly and just "be" in God's presence and listen.
I am becoming aware of "unsafe people" and I'm taking steps to remove them from my life.
Goals:

Learn to recognize who the healthy people are and surround myself with them.
I'd really like to hear about your areas of personal growth this year!

[Emerging]

Great topic! No time right now to give it the reply it deserves, but great topic! I hope to better respond soon. :)

[Pilgrim]

Great! (I love your quote btw). I'm a big Matrix fan.

[Theodora]

(((((((((((Pilgrim)))))))))) --- What a WONDERFUL list this is!!! I wish I could say that I've ALSO grown in these areas, particularly the fourth one, becoming aware of "unsafe" people....and perhaps I HAVE. It's just that I know I still have a VERY long ways to go----especially in learning how to "remove" those unsafe people from my life! (As it happens, I'm needing to do some follow-up on the "Explosion" that happened at "my" church a couple of weeks ago during announcements. I CAN'T now trust that person who interrupted me and publicly chastised me in front of the congregation and, since that person is a deacon in the church, it makes it problematical at the moment as to whether I CAN return there. I've had some MAJOR emotional "issues" since then....some of which might be full-fledged anxiety attacks. For ME, without medication to help this and with a personal "support" system which is complicated and sporadic, the only thing I knew to do was to remove MYSELF from the situation---for now, anyway. With my younger son getting married a week from this Saturday, I HAVE to "move on" and do what I can do to be my "best." )

How I've grown this year:
[list]
I'm REALLY beginning to realize that how I respond or don't respond has nothing to do with the choices other people make in life.
I'm able to SAY what's on my mind without fear of the other person running out the door and using (see above)
I can sit quietly and just "be" in God's presence and listen.
I am becoming aware of "unsafe people" and I'm taking steps to remove them from my life.

AND....oh DEAR ONE..... I join you in this goal!!! TERRIFIC!!!


Goals:

Learn to recognize who the healthy people are and surround myself with them.

THANKS for "being here" and modeling what it might mean to BECOME "healthy" myself too.

Love and prayers--

Theodora

[Theodora]

My apologies for the formatting errors. Still learning how to use this software and---obviously---my guess about how to do this "properly" didn't quite work.

However...

It's the best I can do for right now, so I hope you can read the INTENT, in and through the MISTAKES!

And then again....perhaps that is an example of "growth" in my OWN life this year, e.g. that I CAN make mistakes and not spend valuable time fretting over trying to correct them to "perfection" when that might not be the BEST use of time right now!!! ;)

If you notice the time of the post, yes....I AM again "out of synch" with the world in my sleep pattern, though not entirely WITHOUT sleep. (And YEA for that!!!)

However, there's MUCH to "process" in the ol' head right now, and---when I'm like this and WAKEFUL---it seems far "healthier" to just get up and "DO" something with this unwanted energy. "Hands to work and hearts to God."

Please do continue to pray for me, if you would, during this especially stressful time in my life----strength, wisdom and true discernment about "priorities" AND the ability to "relinquish" things that do NOT fit my "vision" of what might be/could be/"should be!"

Blessings to you and yours and all here this night/this day!

As always----

"More as able."

Theodora

:)

[Pilgrim]

"the only thing I knew to do was to remove MYSELF from the situation---for now, anyway."

Any step away from unsafe people is a step. (imho) If all you can do is remove YOURSELF, then remove yourself until you are able to deal with the situation at hand. Sometimes I'm just not strong enough to confront a situation. God knows my weakness. I don't think He minds that I just walk away for a while and I don't think He minds that you do either. Better to walk away then go in there trying to fight a battle KNOWING you don't have the capabilities to do so... Strengthen the knees that are feeble. I do believe God wants us to know our weaknesses and act accordingly.

((((Theo)))) Hang in there. Even in the battlefield soldiers need to retreat from the battle for a while for R&R so that he can go back in stronger and rested and able to fight. I believe Jesus did it all the time. Battle, retreat, pray and rest. Battle, retreat, pray and rest. Right now you just may need to retreat and rest before you can go back into the battle.

Will keep you in my prayers.

[Pilgrim]

"And then again....perhaps that is an example of "growth" in my OWN life this year, e.g. that I CAN make mistakes and not spend valuable time fretting over trying to correct them to perfection" when that might not be the BEST use of time right now!!! "

Thus begins your list! ;)

[Velveteen Rabbit]

How I think I've grown in the last year:

I've recognized my tendency to want to be in control of situations and have learned to step back more often than I used to.
I've recognized my tendency to put myself in the Holy Spirit's place in people's lives and think I need to "exhort" them when God actually wants me to get out of the way and let Him do His job while I focus on simply loving and being an example.
I've gained a bit more self-confidence in some areas.
I've become a little more independent.
My body image is somewhat healthier.
My prayer life has improved to some degree.

Well, that's all I can think of now. I hope they're all true! :rolleyes: :)

Thanks for the opportunity, Pilgrim! *HUGS*

[Pilgrim]

I've recognized my tendency to put myself in the Holy Spirit's place in people's lives and think I need to "exhort" them when God actually wants me to get out of the way and let Him do His job while I focus on simply loving and being an example.

Can I borrow that one? Yes, that's definitely one area I'm growing in too. Funny thing is, it's one of my pet peeves, and yet I do it all the time! It's funny how God can work without me. :o

[Velveteen Rabbit]

Can I borrow that one? Yes, that's definitely one area I'm growing in too. Funny thing is, it's one of my pet peeves, and yet I do it all the time! It's funny how God can work without me. :o


Exactly... I hate it when people do it to me! Thankfully, I had a friend who was honest enough to confront me about it. I was defensive at first but, in the long run, have realized it was true and that I was doing more damage than good. Now that I am leaving God's work to God, things are going much better. :)

((((( Pilgrim ))))) I appreciate you!

[Amber]

Great question ... I'm still thinking about it. I'm not sure that I've grown much this year. It's been a tough year. I'll keep thinking ....

[Emerging]

ok, I thought of a couple or so:

My emotions are more level - maybe that's why it doesn't feel like I feel anything lately - it's not as over-the-top intense? :p
I can hold the door open to a better outcome "next time" ... so I don't have to "fix it all right now" :eek:
Which includes that I can let mean people do their thing withOUT getting sucked into their games as much ... still get sucked, but not as much :confused:
When someone starts giving me a hard time, some/most of the time I don't fall apart in tears now ... I just start saying ummm colorful metaphors about them under my breath... well, I think it's progress.... :rolleyes:
I am starting to deal with my children more business like instead of emotionally-based when I'm not happy with them .... it seems to be a better way to handle things. :o
Sometimes I hear "little Em" giggling inside of me! :)

[Pilgrim]

Doesn't it feel good when you realize you're growing? :D

[Sheep]

- I've learned that not only is it okay for me to grieve over my losses, but
necessary.

- Sometimes my emotions are intensified because they are connected to an event
that happened in the past where I didn't allow myself to feel those feelings by
ignoring them or shaming them. I am becoming more aware of this and feeling!

- As an adult I am responsible for getting my needs met.

- It's very important for me to take a daily inventory about how I'm feeling. A lot
of times my feelings are connected to a need of mine.

- I am not my mistakes!!!!

- God wants me to be whole: my mind, will, and emotions. He is restoring my soul.

- Sometimes I "grab" for the old wool, but He gently reminds me by His Spirit that
the old, smelly stuff just doesn't work anymore! The new wool is better.

Baa...that's what has been growing in my life this past year!

Sheep

[Pilgrim]

- I am not my mistakes!!!!Good reminder!!!! Thanks for that!