Last week, I wrote about the idea of settling into a complacent life versus going after what it is you were placed here to do.  Often times, life can take us on a journey that brings us opportunities and obstacles and then we have to decide how best to navigate through each one.  With so many circumstances molding our path through life, many times we find ourselves settling.  Settling into a life and/or career that is safe but at the same time sucks away every aspect of who we are.   Something comes along that looks like opportunity and what do we do?  We jump right on in not thinking of where it may lead us.

All I have to say to that is, Don’t Jump!!!  Don’t let the circumstances of your life dictate your path and force you into things are not you.  I have learned this from my own experiences in life.  If you choose to jump right on in all that happens is you become trapped.  You become trapped by a career that you do not love.  You get trapped in a life that does not have meaning and purpose.  You lose track of who you are spiritually.  You lose connection with those that you love.

In essence, you get pulled away from being who you truly are.  Just say you are a job that you just do not enjoy anymore, but do not get out of.  What that will start to do is pull at every aspect of your being.  You may become frustrated and without even meaning to, that frustration starts to carry over to other parts of your life.  This is no way to live.  Believe me, I have been there.

So what do you?  First, it begins with your own mental attitude.  You have the ability to let those circumstances control you and make your life miserable or chose not to.  Dale Carnegie said, “Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.”  You have that ability to create your happiness and change your circumstance.  Don’t just jump in blindly and let your circumstances control you.  You control it.  None of us are going to glide through life without making mistakes or the wrong choices.  How we react and learn from from those choices and mistakes helps to define who we are and where we end up.

God granted each of us with the free will to make decisions about our life and circumstances.  He is always there to guide us through it all if we trust in Him, but we have to make those choices ourselves.  Leo Buscaglia said, “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”  When you are trying to determine what it is you really want to do with your life, take an inventory of your talents and also of your passions. Once you figure that out, go out and do what it you are passionate about using the talents you have.  You also glorify God in this way.

If you are at the crossroads of decision, Don’t Jump!  Don’t settle for complacency.  You were created for much more than a complacent life.  Take advantage of the talents God blessed you with.  Get out there and do what brings you passion and what truly has purpose and meaning to you.  Don’t jump into a life or career that contradicts who you are. You can never come alive this way.