Positivity – How to Reset after the Pause.

The question is –

Having carved out more time for prayer, mediation and reflection will we emerge from this time of soul fasting changed?A better person?More spiritual?Or will we be the same?For most of us, we’re nearing the end of this intense time of soul fast.We can’t have wasted it.As many are saying in the news—-NEVER WASTE A GOOD CRISIS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US PERSONALLY?
From our book Guide to Fasting—Here are some things for you to consider this week:
1.     Have I been living in any way from a false self or not being who I was truly created to be?
2.     Have I been consumed with getting ahead or accumulating things or simply self-focused ?
3.     Have I at all times treated others kindly during this stressful time such as those who have served me in grocery stores?
4.     Have I spread joy and positivity during this crisis or have I let fear control my actions?
5.     Have I been concerned for the needs of others? Consider this —-Would I have given my 1 allotment of toilet paper that I found on an early morning grocery store hunt to someone who needed it more than me (and considering my last three early morning searches produced nothing)?
6.     Did this shelter-in-place time reveal that I was living more for “good times” than for God’s plans and purpose for my life?
7.     Have I been a giver when I see people in need? Do I look for ways to make someone’s life brighter and easier?
8.     Have I experienced peace in the midst of this pandemic storm or have I felt irritable and agitated?
9.     Have I let fear control my life?
10.  Name 1 time this last week when you gave someone else hope.

If you missed your chance to make a positive difference, it’s not to late to make some changes.

How We Can Determine if We Are Living Separate from the Source of All Life
We feel the burden of our survival. We are stressed at times during our day trying to figure things out on our own rather than ask for God’s help.We have thought it’s up to us to use the things of this culture (e. g. food, money, recreation, people) for our emotional, psychological, and mental survival. 

Interesting to note: SUICIDE HOTLINE CALLS HAVE BEEN UP 8000% DURING THE PANDEMIC. ITS GOOD THAT PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR HELP BUT IT ALSO REVEALS THE STATE OF AFFAIRS WHEN IT COMES TO THE SOUL.

We need others to validate us. Relationships can become a minefield of stress when we expect from others what we can only get from God.When we are separated from the Source of Life, we can fear death and use behaviors to try and mitigate that fear such as emotional eating.