The Strength of Gratitude and More Yoda Quotes

Courtesy of Freeimages.com

I don't know if it's me or the mechanism of Facebook or life or what, but over the last several years I have gained and lost quite a few people from my life. Some have actually unfriended or even blocked me, but many are still around on the fringes. I'm sure there are a million reasons why they've backed off, not all of them my "fault," but it still hurts.

It doesn't help that I have a tendency to wallow, to mentally list off who they are and where they went and wonder why. 

Wallowing is replaying the losses, and "the fear of loss is a path to the Dark Side."  I know that it weakens me. Now that I'm getting comfortable walking into strength, I'm learning to gratitude my way out of wallowing.

When I find myself focusing on what was, I'm learning to turn it around to be grateful for what is. 

Many of these people I love, though stepped back, are still here. We are not sharing our lives as we used to, but they are still part of my story, and I am still part of theirs. That's what I have for right now, and right now is where my heart needs to be. 

Strength and Encouragement Courtesy of Yoda

Courtesy of freeimages.com

I struggle with people-pleasing and caring too much what people think (among the many other issues I deal with. I know, I’m in process.). 

One cause of this is that I'm petite. Everyone is bigger than me. They can outrun me AND beat me up. Staying on peoples' good side is necessary for my survival, but over the years it's gotten out of hand. 

Overcoming and moving on from these issues has become a major theme for me. When I'm afraid or heartbroken or weary I look for the strength to stand.

I’ve been looking for quite a while. I'm still looking.

I realize now that I've had it backward.

First I have to stand, then I have to trust that the strength will be there when I take a step. 

I need to fake it ‘til I make it. I need to think strong because “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”  (Prov 23:7 KJV)

I need to take a lesson from Yoda -- Do or Do Not. There Is No Try. 

God said something similar when Israel was on the brink of conquering the Promised Land (this was the second time. They were too stupid/fearful/weak to learn the first time. Yay for second chances). Eight times Joshua and/or Israel were told,  "Be strong and courageous." Sounds like they needed as much en-courage-ment as I do.

God didn't command them, "Try to be strong and courageous." He didn't tell them, "Think about being strong and courageous."  He said to BE strong and courageous. If He commanded it, it must be possible.

I’m not going to try strong. I’m going to Do. 

And when I fail, as I surely will, there will be a second chance to move forward.