A couple of days ago, I was getting ready for work...so tired (probably because I am a stinkin' night owl and cannot go to bed at a good hour~ EVER)...my hair wouldn't cooperate, my makeup looked weird, I didn't have enough time to grab breakfast before I left for work because I got up late...I rushed around realizing that I didn't give myself enough time (I cannot stand being late...huge PET PEEVE)...got dressed, grabbed my purse and keys and I am out the door!! I was proud of myself for getting out the door at the time I needed to in order to make it to work about 15 minutes early (which is no good...bad traffic, accident, stupid goose crossing the road clueless to any cars approaching...anything can happen, and POOF that tiny 15 minute window is no longer existent!) Anyway, I was driving...listening to music (LOUDLY! Don't hate)...trying to wake up. About halfway there I was at a traffic light and looked in the rearview mirror to assess the damage a.k.a. my hairstyle that morning! So, I looked up in the mirror and at that moment my heart sank as I realized the worst thing ever...I FORGOT TO PUT MY MASCARA ON!!
Ok! Timeout!! For those of you (guys and those women with gorgeous lashes who don't need mascara or even makeup for that matter) you could possibly be rolling your eyes right now, or thinking "and this is a big deal becauuusssse???" ~ No mascara is NO BUENO in my book! Let me put it this way...if I were in a situation where I could only pick one thing to wear of makeup, it would hands down be mascara. I look really wierd without it...I look like I have the flu or that I haven't slept in 6 days...possibly 7! It's just not a good look for me! ;)!
Ok! Timein! In that moment, when I realized that I forgot the most important thing in my makeup routine, I thought...."Oh man, it's gonna be one of THOSE days!". I actually may have said it out loud. I am a firm believer that what you allow yourself to believe (whether it indeed be truth or lies), you affirm your belief by verbalizing it. It's like what the Bible tells us...Luke 6:45 (HCSB) "A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart." Your mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
On an unneccesary sidenote, I stopped quickly at a store and bought some mascara on my way to work, applied it BEFORE I got back on the road...and made it to work in plenty of time! =)
Every day, many times a day, I have to ask myself one question. "What is True?" I have to consciously re-train my mind to focus on what is true. It is a daily battle. You may ask how can one really know what is true and what is not. I can identify with that question. You see, when your eyes are blinded to the truth and you begin to believe lies that the Enemy is constantly feeding you...you slowly become desensitized to the truth. You become jaded. Truth becomes replaced with Lies.
It's like the example that you have probably heard before of the frog and the pan...if a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability of people to react to significant changes that occur gradually.
The best way to guard your heart (the place from which our mouth speaks from) and to keep it on a healthy track is to use Philippians 4:8 as the best guideline. It says, "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things." Phil. 4:8 (HCSB)
Whenever things get cloudy for me...or whenever my "feelings" start to take over...I ask myself, "What is true?" It is amazing how that will redirect your thoughts to what is good and honorable...what is just...pure...lovely...you get the point. Now, don't misunderstand...I have to ask myself this question a whole lot some days. I have some days when I just want to have a pity party...but when I ask myself what is true, it forces me to look past any feelings that I may have and understand the reality of the situation. It is a process and will take time. What I do know is this...now that I have been redirecting my thoughts to more positive, honest, uplifting, TRUE thoughts, my pity parties are shorter...my sad moments have turned into joy much quicker...my understanding of how God views me and how much I am worth to him has become stronger.
Overall, asking myself every day "what is true?" in the midst of a circumstance that is difficult or frustrating has helped me direct and focus my thoughts on what is good. It changes the entire outcome of my day. Instead of allowing a feeling to dictate my mood or to dictate the direction that my day is going to go in...I choose to seek what is true and what is real about that circumstance. We cannot allow our feelings to be our gauge or temperature setter. Our feelings are misleading, and a lot of times completely misguided. So, the next time you find yourself saying, "Oh boy, looks like it's going to be one of THOSE kind of days", take a step back, assess the situation and choose a more positive outlook. If anything, it will refocus your thoughts and the complete outcome of your day. If you don't believe me...Try it!
If you have recently experienced a "what is true?" moment where you had to stop...refocus your thoughts...and as a result were able to change what was once a potentially bad direction of your day into a good day- please leave me a comment or send me an email with your story. I would love to hear it and share in your journey as well!
