It’s said that when a seed is planted, a significant amount of growth takes place below the surface before anything breaks through the ground. I would say the same goes for our personal development. There is an internal process that must take root before we start producing outside fruit. In 13 days, I will be 31. As I reflect on the last 352 days, I am most excited about the growth and shifts that are happening internally.
Less than a month into 30, a gentleman I was dating informed me that he didn’t see a future for us and thought we should take a break. Add to that the fact that he had been thinking about it for a month-- which meant he could have told me before my 30th birthday so I could have left him in my twenties. That blindsided “breakup” [we weren’t officially together but the feeling is the same] set me into a deep introspection. I had developed a dating pattern that ultimately was reflective of work I needed to do within myself. For that reason, I made a commitment to focus on me.
I made a commitment to focus on me.
The past two years of my life have shown me the power of alignment. While I made the decision to “focus on me” in the emotional area of my life, my internal work subsequently impacted EVERY aspect from home life to business. Choosing to focus on you is a DAILY journey. It has led to the uncovering of fears, unresolved hurts, and insecurities amongst other things. As a result of facing my true imperfect self, I’ve strengthened bonds with those around me, attracted people who pour into me, and have released baggage I never needed to carry.
My year of 30 has been a year of shedding. God has been slowly showing me that everything I thought I needed was not important. The night the guy spoke his truth about our future together, I knew God was trying to get my attention. My faith [even as I type this] is being strengthened.
A theme that has been recycling in my development is Hebrews 12:1 “Let us shed every weight … [so that we can] run with endurance the race God has set before us.” The shedding of weight is an active process that strips you of distractions. When you silence the noise, chaos, and demands around you, what’s important can be revealed.
When you silence the noise, chaos, and demands around you, what’s important can be revealed.
In reading this, please know I still have PLENTY of “weight” to shed, but as a reminder to myself of what I’m capable of, I’m going to share some experiences and lessons from my year of 30 over the next few weeks.
I invite you to reflect using me as a mirror. What have you learned about yourself over the past year? What shifts or shedding has taken place in your life? What was your turning point? For me, the conversation with that gentleman was the motivation I needed to do something differently. It hasn’t been pretty and I am far from perfect [if I’m honest, he was never fully cut off], but I’m definitely progressing. Roots are expanding beneath the surface. Let’s grow together.