Life is a treasured gift. Are you satisfied with yours? When last have you taken time out to take stock of yours? Are you satisfied with it? If perchance you are not satisfied, what are you doing about it? If you continue to do the same things over and over again, everything will remain the same. Nothing will change.
If a change in your life is warranted, why not begin by recognizing that your present situation is not the result of your genes, parents, education, job, luck, timing, health, or environment. Rather, it is the choices you have made and the actions you have taken that have brought you where you are today. If you are desirous to change your life, take responsibility for it. Change your choices and actions and you will change the results that follow. This understanding is the first step in personal transformation.
Are you ready to take that responsibility? If you are, you just might be saying, where should I begin? What action should I take? That is easy. Start by taking a personal inventory. Every thriving business owner takes regular inventory of his or her stock, and so should you. You see, as we get older, it behooves us to stop ever so often to take an inventory of our lives. This will provide us with great insights that should help us to move forward.
An inventory is a way of knowing what happened, what is happening and, most of all, what to look forward to in the future. It can help us answer some very pertinent questions about the direction our lives are moving, such as: Are we growing or declining in character development? Are we moving toward our life-goals, or are there hindering obstacles? Are we growing in our relationship with others and with God? And what changes do we need to make to move ahead more effectively?
Self-evaluation is a needed tool for improvement of one’s self. A person who does not practice self-evaluation risks the possibility of being deceived and of being destroyed. Without self-searching, we could not see ourselves in reality. We all have done, said and thought things that were unproductive, impolite and immature at times. All of us have strayed into behaviours that took us far away from whom God created and called us to be. We all have experienced regret and shame for the way we unfairly responded or mistreated other people at times, so a personal inventory can prove useful.
Another way to view the importance of an inventory is to look at your life from another perspective that is, by looking at your life by the number of years you have been around. For instance, how old are you now? Are you happy with what you have accomplished thus far? What would you have done differently? What would you like to change moving forward? How many years lie between now and when you turn fifty or seventy? What would you like your legacy to be?
You see, life is short. We should make each day count. Psalm 90: 10 states, “The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” This means that we have an allotted time and we need to make the best use of our life before it comes to an end. There is still so much we can do and so much room for improvement.
It behooves each of us then to take charge of our life, or life will take charge of us. Every aspect of our lives must be subjected to an inventory of how we are taking responsibility for our lives. Time is precious and our lives are valuable so we cannot afford to waste them away. We need to make our lives count on a daily basis. We must be willing to forgive those who have wronged us, and be willing to allow God to reshape our lives, to redefine our motives and to redirect our attention to look to him when we are tempted or tested in life. So, if you are not satisfied with your life, the first thing to do is to take a personal inventory of your life, take responsibility, and then change your choices and your actions.
With that in mind, focus on your goal, set your course, and have an attitude that says, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, I’m going to start living my best life now!” Always remember that it is not how hard you fall — it’s how fast you get up that matters!
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. Referrals can also be made directly through the Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence, South Hill, Anguilla. By Appointment Only: Tel 497-0765
