It’s the beginning of the end… Not the end of civilization (as many are saying with regards to the Trump administration) – just the end of 2016, which will probably go down in history as one of the strangest in modern times. From the American election to Brexit, the Local election transition of power and widespread student unrest – it’s been a year where things have not seemed to ever settle into a consistent pace.
I’m not going to lie. Personally the last year has been one of the hardest I’ve ever endured. At the same time it is one of the most purposeful. Looking back at it, I have come to realize that it’s probably the only way life truly works: the harder the fight, the sweeter the victory. The more important the outcome is, the deeper you will have to dig. The more ground you take, the more resistance you will face.
I know for a fact that I was made for progress. I believe you were made to change the world as well. But doing something new – being who you are truly made to be – requires discomfort and endurance. Working with young adults, many try to fight the tough reality of life; but the truth is, responsibility, pressure and purpose are only going to grow exponentially in the years to come. So we all might as well buckle down and set the right precedents in our lives.
This is how I have got through this year. I hope it helps you as well:
Set non-negotiable
This year is a perfect example of what life can throw at you. You never know what tomorrow holds. Something really good or something really terrible could happen, but if we anchor ourselves to key non-negotiables then – no matter what – you will continue to grow. These non-negotiables need to be things that hold to a bigger picture than your current situation. This is so that they can constantly remind you that after facing the challenges you might think are overwhelming, you will be okay.
My non-negotiables: time with God every day, serve at church every Sunday (I did miss one this year because I was sick), connect with people who are important to me once a week and encourage at least two people every week.
All of these things have held me steady in the winds of job insecurity, sickness, financial frustration and family struggles. As well as the challenges of leading in a new capacity, carrying a business in transition and hustling in studios past midnight every week.
You need people. Chase down meaningful relationships
No matter how much you try to control your own life, it is impossible without the support of others. Pride can very easily parade itself as independence or fear in your life. I know that the times where I very nearly did give up this year were in moments when I did not include other people into the ‘conversation’ of my thought life and emotional challenges.
This is by no means easy. In fact, the times when I don’t want to engage with people are the times where I have to discipline myself to ask for help. In the past I have not allowed myself to value what God has given me, but that is as much pride as someone who tries to claim it as their own doing. The more I have learnt to value what God has given me to steward in life, the more unapologetic and urgent I have become in asking for support. What God has called me for is more important than any awkwardness or sense of shame that I might have to push past to engage with people.
People I want on the journey with me: people who have lived longer than me, who I admire, who I honor and respect. People who will speak honestly and address issues in my life.
Sometimes I have sat around waiting for someone to notice me. But life is too short. It’s always in our court. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the guys I have submitted my life to.
Grace is a necessity
God gives us grace for the journey. He is never going to give us something that we cannot handle. If you truly believe that, then it takes away a big portion of the issues you face. In fact, it all comes down to trusting God consistently. No matter how stressful we allow the issues to be, we will live through it. But I have learnt that I determine how much the external influences of my life affect my soul. The quicker you turn to God in the face of struggle, the easier it is to have grace that enables you to walk through it.
I am finishing this year stronger, more passionate about life and definitely confident that I did all I could to steward what I have been given. But without God, I can guarantee that life would be a very different experience for me. The non-negotiable of spending time with God every day – meditating on his word and praying – has at times been the only thing that has kept me going. If you want to know what a relationship with God could do for your life, click on the link below.