Time to Change

“To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under heaven:”–Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

If things are going to change, you need to change. And when you change, things will change. Change your thoughts to change the words you speak. Change the words you speak to exhibit the behaviors you want to see. Change your old habits and create new patterns to get the results you want to experience. Nothing is going to change until you change.

Everything you desire, hope for, wish was your reality is within your power to achieve and receive, but you must first decide that you’re going to change. You’re going to be the change you want to see in your life. You’re going to change because your happiness and your peace of mind depend on it. If you don’t change, it will be very hard to see things and people change for you.

What can you do to make the next year of your life better than the last? You can change. If you did not achieve many of your goals this year, think about the changes you can make to achieve them starting right now. What do you have to do? Have you been in negative frame of mind for a good portion of the year, grumbling and complaining about people, how things are in your life or how the year wasn’t going to your liking? Turn all that negative energy into positive thoughts and speech, and soon positive actions and results will follow.

Have you been struggling to lose weight and keep it off? I sure have. How can you change yourself to achieve that goal? You certainly can’t keep doing the same things you’ve been doing in the past. You know that losing weight takes time and commitment to doing the things that promote weight loss. And keeping it off long term means you must develop a lifestyle around healthy living to be successful. So, some changes you can make to support your decision to finally lose the weight and keep it off could be to buy and/prep your healthy meals in advance, keep junk food out of your home and only treat yourself to small portions on occasion. You can also commit to drinking more water, sleeping more hours to get at least 7 or 8, getting more exercise, and journaling or praying more. After a year of being consistent, or maybe even less time, you will see the results you’ve longed for, and you will be happy.

Is your house or home messy a lot and you dream of living in clean, clutter-free mansion someday soon? Yes, indeed. Guess what. The mansion won’t remain clutter-free for long unless you change. So, the change must start right where you are in your smaller house or home. You must start treating the space you’re in like the mansion you dream of occupying one day. If your home is dirty and messy, start cleaning and organizing somewhere, like in the kitchen. And do it joyfully. Light a candle or burn some fragrant incense, listen to uplifting music, or turn off the music and listen to your thoughts.  The inspiration to write this article came out of a moment such as this.

Don’t wait for your kids or your spouse or anyone else to clean up to your satisfaction. If a messy house bothers you and it doesn’t seem to bother them as much, you want it more than they do. So, take your time and do it the way you want it done. Chances are when they see you working, they may want to hang around to help or just to watch. But even if they don’t notice or say anything, keep working and enjoy your new clean and organized space. A great benefit is that your spirit will be lifted, and you will be a more pleasant person to be around.

Let’s be honest, no one wants to be around a grumpy, miserable person. Depression breeds more depression and happiness breeds more happiness. So, if you like a clean space, but find yourself constantly living in a mess, do something to make it better. Being miserable and sad about it won’t do it for you, but if you are able, pick up those rags and cleaning supplies and get to cleaning. And remember that you’re doing it for your own mental health and wellbeing, although it will benefit others as well. If you are not able, you can delegate some tasks or hire someone to come in and clean for you.

Here are some other ways that you can change if you want to see things change:

• If you don’t have many friends, but long for some, decide to be friendly and act on it. And you will have friends.
• If you’re used to only looking out for yourself and find that people stay away from you, start showing kindness to others and share what you have. People will gravitate to you.
• If you always wished you were smarter but never thought you had the brains, start affirming yourself daily and begin reading books, watching videos, or listening to podcasts on topics that interest you. Pretty soon, you will be an expert on those topics.
• If you always wished you could sing, play an instrument, or do art, start taking classes and practicing. You’ll be better off than before you started.
• If you want a new career but don’t have the skills that are required, upskill by taking a course or volunteering to help someone else and learn those skills. You’ll develop confidence that you can do the job and will have your new career in due time.

The sky is the limit. Be grateful and show appreciation for what you have, and greater blessings will come to you. Moreover, whatever changes you wish to see in your life, you need to be willing to change and you need to do it. Otherwise, everything will remain the same. Rome wasn’t built in a day, though, so don’t expect a new mindset or habit to be ingrained instantly. But with consistent effort, love, and care, you can achieve your goals.

As we end this year and begin the next, it’s time to change. Let us turn over a new leaf and be the change so we can see change happening and meet our deepest desires.

Have a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!