We began this 40-Day Journey to the New Year just ten days ago. My question for you is one of reflection:

What has transpired for you in these ten days?

You might be prone to say a quick “Oh so much!” Or a potentially defeating “Nothing’s transpired; life’s too busy!”

My question isn’t intended to be glossed over or to be a bludgeon of reflection. Neither of those is helpful. My question is intended to invite you to slow, to reflect, to adjust, to focus as you continue on.

Photo by Ana Tavares on Unsplash

If you’re anything like me, there have been days just in these ten, when you’ve seen the email and haven’t made time to even open it, much more engage with the content and invitation within. There are days like that. 

My prayer for each of us is that we develop awareness of our tendencies in order to become  intentional about how we move through the world. Avoiding something because it is potentially uncomfortable is a very common human characteristic. Very Common. 

In fact avoiding hard things has a designation for behavior called Avoidance Coping. Please hop over to read more about Avoidance Coping. I want you to know I don’t make this stuff up! 

Now that you know you’re not alone, perhaps this can be one of your growing awarenesses during this 40-Day Journey. As I’ve mentioned before

Back to my question for today. What’s transpired in ten days?

Today is the first day of the season of Advent. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Hope is the theme of the first Sunday and the week’s focus for reading and reflection. Throughout the remainder of our 40-Day Journey I’ll be weaving the themes of Advent into our preparations to thrive in 2020. 

We begin by reflecting on what has transpired for you in the first ten days of this journey.

I’ve created a place for you to share if you’re willing; there is a private, hidden Facebook group that you’ve been invited to, but only if you are on Facebook and have liked the page Lisa Lewis Coaching. If you’re not on Facebook and want to share what you’re learning and processing, you can leave a comment on the blog post; I have to approve the author/comment so if you don’t want others to read it just say so in the comment. I can interact with you privately. And of course, there is always email. 

You made the choice to go on this intentional journey. The next step is to make the choice to get the most out of the invitations as they come. You will grow your awareness, and receive the tools you need in order to thrive in 2020. But a tool is only helpful when it’s used.

Whatever is in your toolbox isn’t useful unless you use it.

Action step: write down what’s transpired for you in ten days. Notice what theme(s) is revealed. Share with us if you desire.