One Change I Would Make in My 50’s by A-ChuckAllen
I’m closing in on 60 years old. YIKES! I remember thinking that 60 was really, really old. Now it seems like it’s still really old. I am a pretty happy guy. I have a great job, a great marriage, six healthy daughters and five grandkids. I love what I do, but if I could go back a decade, I’d change ONE THING!
That one thing, would be to put away more of my emotions and bank on something far greater. I have spent the better part of my adult life living on my gut feelings and my raw emotions. I can have huge swings in my attitudes and often in my emotions. I’ll bet that I am not alone in that. I’m a “Type A.” “DISC High D, ” action-oriented person with a radical bent toward performance and productivity. That doesn’t help my case, no matter how proudly my temperament screams that I’ve got my act together!
If I could change one big thing over the past decade it would be to engage something daily that would trump my emotions, ego, pride, perspectives and accolades. I know of one thing that can do all of that and then more. If I could have trusted God at His word ten years ago, I would have spent more intentional time in Meditation. Don’t skip out on me here. My word is meditation. Yours might be “quiet time” or “devotional.” I don’t particularly care what you call it, but I now know of it’s power.
About three years ago, I knew my life was on a rapid pace of change. I was becoming more aware of legacy and what I might someday leave behind. The certainty was that I needed something that could overwhelm my soul and all of the internal flaws and pride. I needed something that would infuse me with peace, power and daily direction.
I found that certain something in MEDITATION. It’s an art form of four spiritual disciplines – FOUR HABITS – GRATITUDE, SCRIPTURE READING, JOURNALING AND PRAYER. These habits have become my morning routine and I rarely miss them or misplace them.
I have found that when I start my day with gratitude, what I have is more than enough. When I start my day with an intentional desire to get a small sampling of God’s Word in my soul, my days are packed with peace and power. I have learned to enjoy journaling. Not keeping a diary, but answering a few short questions that remind me to capture what the Divine is doing in my life, and praying. In my case, praying includes speaking out loud to my Creator and then getting quiet and still so that I could train my heart, mind and soul to hear His voice. I’ve found that He is still in the talking business and we chat most days, hour by hour. He speaks in promptings and feelings. He speaks in hushed whispers and at times with what is the equivalent of a shout!
I looked everywhere to find a resource that could turn those four habits into a sustainable, daily resource, to no avail. As a result, I created a resource that I have test driven for three years. They became known, in my little head as “My Power Routines.”
I’ve now published three volumes of Power Routines in an effort to invite you into a fifteen minute discipline that is simplistic, sustainable and powerful. In just fifteen minutes, you can engage in the same four habits of GRATITUDE, SCRIPTURE READING, JOURNALING & PRAYER. I’ll walk you through every step. Each volume is a separate 30-day journey.
What’s the ONE THING that I’d change? My intentional effort to discover peace, power and direction through the spiritual habits of Power Routines.
I’d be so happy to hear how these POWER ROUTINES have helped you. Grab your copy of Volume 2 on Amazon RIGHT HERE!
I Can’t Wait to Hear From You!
A-Chuck
