No, not THAT kind of hangover. Thanksgiving flew by, Christmas was right behind it and now New Years is a distant memory. The kind of hangover that finds you sitting at your desk, or staring at the coffee pot in your house, just . . . blah.
No, it doesn’t have to be this way. Yes, God has a plan that doesn’t involve living like this. Because while you may feel a weight around you, know that your life is meant to be enjoyed. God wants nothing more than for you to carry about your day, feeling loved–like nothing can touch you. As if the world belonged to you.
Because it does. Want to get that mojo back? Read below.
1. Envision What you Want
I don’t mean a big new house, or a new car, or even those boots you’ve been eyeing at TJ Maxx (am I the only one who waits for double “yellow sticker” clearance before buying?). I mean what do you WANT for yourself. I’ll go first. I want to wake up feeling excited about the day. I want to be calm, and patient when my daughter spills milk everywhere, at the worst possible moment. I want to be content, even when my best-laid plans go careening out of play. That’s what I truly want. Your list might look different, but my suspicion is your wants and mine aren’t so far apart. We are seeking contentment, which is why we have the hangover in the first place. Good thing for us, the bible has a cure for that.
2. Pray
This is the FUN PART. Don’t believe me? Do a quick bible search on how often the term “prayer” comes up. Expand your notion of what prayer is. Every act of service, every moment of silence, ever smile at a stranger, it all recognizes the gift and gratitude of life. That is prayer. This is what you must reconnect with to chase away the holiday blues. Try out easy, wish everyone you meet today a happy New Year. You’ll be amazed at the reaction. Seriously. I did this on my walk this morning and people stopped, stared at me, in a kind of a stammering mummer wished me the same. That’s love, folks. It THROWS people. Especially in Washington D.C. 🙂 Spread it around, it’s intoxicating.
3. Petition
This one is interesting. A few folks I know offer very demanding prayers. Others seem content to let God’s plan unfold without much intervention. I alternate in-between. There have been times in my life I was very candid with God. I wanted to get married to a wonderful man, I wanted success in my career and I wanted a beautiful child. Spoiler alert: I got every one of those things. Every single one. WARNING: God loves us so much, he will give us what we desire, so desire something good for yourself. Now that I have those things? I focus on giving back. I know what God has bestowed on me and I’m beyond grateful, I’m groveling in my prayers! Petition is a key way of connecting with God’s plan for you. Because it’s only by asking and listening to the response that you understand what’s truly a desire and what’s your ego talking. It’s an art, not a science. But that’s what makes it interesting.
The New Year holds so much mystery. What does God have in store for me this year? What blessings have yet to be unlocked? Don’t let your emotions blind you to the amazing journey you are on at every moment in your life. The older I get, the less these big holidays mean to me. Because to be honest, every day can feel like Christmas. Now that’s a gift worth receiving.
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