The future is a scary place. I’m not talking about the questions of what types of pressures and challenges my children will face. I’m not contemplating the state of our economy and what changes will or will not come for our society. I’m not predicting the end of the world, wars, or any other number of things some people expect and fear in our future. Those things can certainly make the future a scary place, but I have no problem trusting in such scenarios as these.

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For me, my future is a scary place. I want control of it and I want it bad. I seek ways to feel in control of where my life goes. Letting go of that control presents my biggest challenge. We had a moment to lay things at the foot of the cross over the course of the weekend. I lay my need for control over my life and felt so relieved. Then, just a few short days later, I proceeded to pick the heavy load back up and place it across my shoulders again.

I do believe we have the power to work towards goals and pursue a better life. As Katie mentioned in her post this morning, we take action and plant seeds of opportunity that can later take fruition. Yet we, aka I, have to realize that just because I do ABC does not mean I will end up at point D. Heck, I could end up at point Z. Or not even on the letter spectrum at all.

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I need to trust. I certainly have hopes and dreams, but I can’t allow them to prevent me from living my life with the right priorities for me right now. I can’t get so caught up in what I picture my life as in the future to not see and experience my life in the present. Thank goodness God has provisions to help me realize this so I can once again place my future back in his stronger, more knowledgeable, and more capable arms.

Last night I went through a special prayer walk at our church meant to focus on setting our minds in a place of thanksgiving before the holidays. Quite a few parts of that walk stuck out to me…including a particular slip of paper with verses to pick up.

Fitting, no? Then today in the car, after attending a nature walk with the mom’s group and finding myself surrounded by God’s beauty, I heard the song Whatever You’re Doing by Sanctus Real.

“Whatever you’re doing, inside of me, it feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace. Though it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see, I’m giving in to something heavenly…You’re up to something bigger than me, larger than life, something heavenly.”

I have to focus on each day. Count on God each day to be able to do that. And let life happen. I’m sure it will bring me to a beautiful place – whether point D, Z, or 3.

• With what things do you have difficulty giving up control?
• What things do you worry about? My biggest worry for the future is whether or not I will be able to work in a way that fits my passions and my family. I fear not working in a way that fulfills me as a person, mother, & wife.

I really don’t like when my husband and I get upset with each other over stress and miscommunications…but I’m blessed to have someone with whom I can share love, communicate openly, and grow stronger.

I really don’t like when my achy hips and lower back keep me up much of the night and leave me constantly exhausted…but I’m blessed for the baby growing inside of me that causes such discomfort.

I really don’t like when my morning quiet time gets interrupted by a particular two year old who thinks the day begins at 6 am as well…but I’m blessed to share those particular mornings with her.

I really don’t like when I get headaches…but I’m blessed to have a life and the ability to feel that pain.

I really don’t like when rain cancels plans for the day…but I’m blessed to have shelter from that rain and cold.

I really don’t like when I have so much to do and don’t feel like I have enough time…but I’m blessed that those basic to-dos are my biggest worries for my time right now.

I really don’t like a lot of things, way more than mentioned here, but also…many more blessings than mentioned here exist as well.

One of the things I took away from this past weekend was a greater change in perspective. I already believed in the power of our thoughts and how they affect our approach to life. I even included “perspective” as part of the 30 Days of Self Love in September. I regularly focused on keeping things in perspective when facing difficult days. Many times, however, that change went only to the brain and not to the heart.

I could tell myself, “oh its not that bad” and logically make things feel a little better. Deep down inside, however, I continued to hold on to my frustrations, worry, disappointment, or whatever else currently plagued me. A particular visual practice stuck with me and I now try to utilize that to more fully release the negatives - breathing in the love, joy, peace, kindness, etc of the Spirit and breathing out the natural reactions and emotions of the self. Perhaps that’s why I always liked yoga from the start, huh? 😉

I must always remember though, that I have the power and freedom to choose my perspective. Just as I have the power and freedom to choose my priorities and how I focus my time. I can already see the process never ends and each day poses new challenges. It truly boils down to taking each day, each moment, one at a time. Perhaps eventually it will turn into a more natural process. Until then, I will keep practicing.

• What is something you really don’t like? Can you find a positive side to it?
• Do you have any methods you use to help relieve stress or gain a better perspective on situations?