My Victory Formula

It was one of those moments.  I'm sitting there listening to the class being presented when my mind is flooded with word phrases and ideas that seem too profound to just ignore.  I grabbed my portable device and started my finger sliding over the touchscreen keyboard.

Yes, I was probably inspired from the previous class that was on the atonement, and so it may have been the trigger that got my brain working.  But this is what I came up with:

     1.  Access the Atonement
     2.  Gratitude for the Vision
     3.  Meet the Minimum

ACCESS THE ATONEMENT
     All around us, people are building their own Tower of Babels.  Attempting to gain access to something that has only one possible entrance.  Whether it is climbing the ladder of success, setting goals with frequent course corrections, positive mental attitude, working harder or smarter, requesting from the 'universe', or any number of other partial power sources that beat around the bush without hitting the target head on.  

However, the atonement of Christ has genuine power - healing power, purifying power, saving power, redeeming power.  But the power that gets most overlooked is the enabling power.  Why would anyone attempt to be successful without accessing the power which increases their capacities.  

And all that is required to access this pure genuine power is to sacrifice our selfish pride.  Recognizing that we are not enough alone and laying our burden at His feet.  Repenting of the sins we've committed or the good works we've omitted.  Humbly seeking his aid and then submitting to his will, especially if it is contrary to our own.  Receiving His word through pondering, reflecting, and personalizing His teachings in our lives.  

Granted, it is not an easy step, but who ever claimed victory to be an easy process.  

GRATITUDE FOR THE VISION

Vision indicating our vision manifested as well as the vision we hope to create.

Our life's circumstances are the consequences of past choices or . . . opportunities for growth.  What we are experiencing right now is either God's manifestation of respect for our agency (even if it was a poor choice on our part) or a manifestation of His trust in our ability to grow beyond our current status.  Keeping that perspective helps me to be grateful for where I am, even when where I am is sometimes unpleasant.

Being grateful for what will come into our life is an expression of faith that God honors our heart's desire and . . . if it is right for us, will provide for our needs.  Sometimes in unexpected or miraculous ways, but I trust that he loves me enough to create the circumstances that are in my best interest.

MEET THE MINIMUM
There is too much to do in a single day.  There is too many good things to successfully prioritize based on that merit alone.  So when I say meet the minimum, take it with tongue and cheek because it is the goal, not the mandate.  It is the 1% principle.  It is the consistency effort of small and simple things.  It is the default when life allows these items to be attended to between crisis or unrelenting schedules.  

Since there is too much to do, especially with children, I like to pray that the most important items will get the proper amount of attention.  That may change from day to day.  One day, relationships may need to be strengthened as a high priority.  Another, it might be more important to put my home, my health, or my finances in order. 

These seven areas are my personal pursuits that require my time and attention in order to maintain as well as progress.  They are:
     1- Physical Activity
            This could be anything from working up a sweat or getting my own drink of water rather than being lazy and asking someone else to do it.
     2- Home Stewardship
            Daily maintaining is essential for my mental health, plus meals and laundry never cease
     3- Study 
            Come face to face with greatness, practice pondering, listening to audiobooks while busy
     4- LOVE
             Strengthening relationships by loving God, spouse, children, friends.
     5- Manage the Money
              Know where my money is, where it is going, and what I want it to do for me.
     6- Be a Force for Good
              This phrase resonates so strong with me that I know this is a deep inner desire.  As long as I keep the desire before me, I hope that I will be able to influence someone in a positive manner.
     7- Mission Momentums
              Momentums are the baby steps that get the ball rolling.  Once in motion, it tends to stay in motion, so I want to regularly do the babystep momentums that that will help me fulfill my life's mission.

There it is.  My Victory Formula.  Even if it doesn't produce the goals or material success that I perceive as necessary in my life, I know I will experience inner peace by focusing on these three things.  And inner peace is truly a Victory. 

REDEFINED VICTORY

I love the word "Victory". 
 

Something about that word resonates with me - more than success, or conquered, or triumphant.  It has a sense of personal mastery and overcoming insurmountable odds.

I choose every day to be the Victor instead of the Victim. 
 

I've tried several methods to help keep victory in my mind.

Everyday in school we have a positive review where we state one positive thing that happened to us, for us, or because of us - so everyday we are focusing on our Victories. 

I try to write down my victories in my personal blog (happeninghaven.blogspot.com) and I try to keep my facebook posts on a positive note.

I try really hard to recognize my 100% accountability (avoiding the blame game) in all my situations and practice having my heart at peace in my relationships.

I don't put up with kids who are stuck in victim mode. 

Through these efforts, I have to admit the process of seeing the positive is becoming a much easier and natural event now.

It wasn't always the case.  For years, I wouldn't be caught dead focusing on this type of thing.  I don't believe it was a conscious choice, but probably more a by product of not wanting to look boastful, or tactless, or even bizarre to be happy over miniscule events.  But when I realized that I was not only uncomfortable being victorious but was completely incapable of even seeing the good in my life, it began to worry me.  I couldn't praise myself for what I got accomplished and was paralyzed to seeing only the things that needed improvement. My false humility had created a healthy dose of stinkin' thinkin.

I guess I had learned to let other people give compliments and I outwardly say a gracious thank you, but all the while rejecting what they said on an internal level.  And so when I was required to come up with five positive reviews, every single week,  for a class I participated in, it was incredibly painful, and at times impossible.  I learned I had to prepare, an hour or two before class, simply to think of anything positive that I could report.  How pathetic is that?

So now positive reviews, victories, and basically positive energy come quite easy to me.  There are times that I still struggle but for the most part, I'm generally happy with how life is going. 

And then I get this insight while studying my scriptures this morning. . .

First, a little background.  The Lord is explaining how He used the Assyrians to destroy the hypocritical Israelites.  And the Assyrians are looking at all their conquered nations, and draw the conclusion that it is because of their own greatness, their leadership, their military strength that they had these Victories.  It never even occurred to them that the Lord ALLOWED them to conquer his chosen people because he wanted to teach them a lesson.

And so in my Scripture Journal, I jot something down along the lines of  "Don't forget the Lord is involved in all our affairs," and "focusing on our victories is a sort of Pride and lack of faith in him".

Oh . . .  my . . .  goodness . . .

Here I thought I was moving in a positive and improved direction by including the positive and victories in my life, but could I be every bit as guilty as the ancient Assyrian King.

It never occurred to me to consider the Lord is the cause of those little victories in my life.  Well, maybe in Sunday School lessons and possibly token acknowledgements here and there but obviously not enough to have my perspective changed from self to service.

It never occurred to me that our positive reviews and victories were actually perpetuating the pride cycle in our individual lives.   Hello!!!  Every individual and every nation that has ever fallen has been because of the pride cycle.  And the only antidote is . . . Humility.

 

 

 

Being grateful for our personal victories, rather than boosting self to boasting.  Recognizing there is a bigger picture than just me and a bigger purpose than my individual goals and comforts. 

I'm still trying to wrap my little brain around the fact that circumstances that are different than my preferences may be the very asset I need for something better than my vision.

I still choose everyday to be Victorious.  I still choose to accentuate the positive and de-emphasize the negative. But I'm redefining VICTORY.  It involves trusting that the Lord is using me to accomplish his purposes (not the other way around). It involves finding a way to be grateful for all my life's circumstances and not just the pleasant ones.  It is submission and gratitude.

And if I can do that, I truly will be VICTORIOUS!

We're Being ALLITERATE

PERFECTLY PLACED 'P's

Galileo:  Practicing produces perfection, permanence, patience, preciousness, and power. 

Wilberforce:   Pillaging pirates eat pickled peppers on the porticus (porch) for prandium (lunch). [including a bit of latin],
 Panem et Circenes prevents personal prosperity.

Austen:  Pan prized his pink pipe.

Washington:  Peter Pan pecked a pair of purple pairs.

Hypatia:  A Princess purchased pink pants.

Joan of Arc:  The pretty pink dress on 'dat'