As I learn to stay present, I’m also learning what things aren’t worth my time and am almost hyper-aware when my time is being wasted. I’m learning to be unapologetic when I don’t want to do something and to be more direct with my needs. My time and energy is precious (so is yours, btw), and as I learn how to live in the moment, I’m seeing what moments are worth living in.
Kayla and I have said “I’m gonna say this once, then I’ll never talk about it again…” several times lately. It clears our minds of things taking up precious mental space and stops those thoughts from spiraling out of control and in to a place they don’t need to be. We do this so we don’t waste our time focusing on the negative – no matter how just those thoughts may be.
I’m choosing to only allow things like truth, positivity, inspiration, feedback, love, and encouragement to be the focal points of my conversations and thought life.
Understand, though, when negative or just plain bad things happen, I don’t just ignore them. I still process things like a somewhat healthy human. I just no longer let those moments, thoughts, or people dictate my attitude for the rest of the day.
HEAR ME OUT PLEASE: It is okay to have a bad day. It is okay to be sad. It is okay to be angry. I’m only talking about those negative things that aren’t worth the extra focus. On the Race, I’ve developed what I like to call a “worth-it” meter, and sometimes it blinks red to let me know this is something worth contemplating.
Fight with your best friend? Worth it. It’ll save your friendship.
Acquaintance makes a dumb choice that has zero impact on you directly? Acknowledge if you must, then move on.
It has been so restful refocusing my mental energy and conversations.
Nothing I can do about it? “Whatever forever” as Kayla would say.
A few weeks ago, the Lord told me everything I’d be learning the last 3 months of the Race would be directly applicable to my transition home from the field. Which makes a lot of sense.
I may be leaving a lot behind when I come back to the States: regret, soul ties, shyness, grudges, but one thing that will definitely be coming home with me is that trusty “worth-it” meter.
Because I know I won’t see eye-to-eye with everyone about everything when I get home. Some things I used to find amusing will make me cringe. My relationships will altar. Some friendships won’t pick up where they left off. Others will flourish.
And I want whatever I continue to build on to have a foundation of growth, positivity, saying the hard things…love.
Are you focusing on the negative? Do you waste your time on things you can’t control or that don’t affect you? Do you give yourself to people and conversations that bring you down? Judging others rather than loving them as we are called to do?
Trust me, it’s not worth it.
All my love,
Aubrey
