Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. PROVERBS 3:5 ESV 

Today, ask yourself how the life you’re living is helping or hindering you in the process of reaching your goals. Specifically, consider the events and people who are either helping you achieve your goals or hindering you.  

Is the friendship that’s basically built around wine and pricy appetizers at fancy restaurants helping or hindering you from reaching your goals? Is the habit that you just can’t quit helping or hindering? Does the negative Nellie in your life, who always looks on the dark side of things, help or hinder? Does the way you use your free time help or hinder? 

I’m encouraging you to notice what in your life today is helping you to embrace the gift of who you are and what might be hindering you. 

I understand how easy it is to become discouraged when life doesn’t seem to align with the dream you thought you were pursuing. But I want you to hear that as you take stock of your life today, you can make choices that equip you to get where you want to be! 

As you consider where you want to be, in one year or in five years, make two lists: the “hinder” list identifies the things that could be hindering you from reaching your goals, and the “helping” list identifies the things that are pushing you forward in the right direction. 

Lord, I thank You for giving me the time and space to reflect on where I am today and what You have in store for me. Guide my mind and show me the best next steps. Amen.