Bringing in the Best

ReallyLeah’s UnHotMess Series 1. 2021. Bringing in the Best and Pushing out the Mess 

2021 is moving fast, like a freight train. I cannot believe it is already the 5th day of the month. Do you feel it too? Is the year really trying to move on without us? 

I mean, it only started a few days ago, and yet I already want it to slow down. I have so much to do, so much to plan, so much foundation to lay and seeds to sow. I do not want the year to get away from me. Okay, I am being dramatic. On purpose.  

All the above used to be me, racing to get it all done and feeling too exhausted at the end to enjoy any of my accomplishments.  

Well, no more.  

For the last couple of years, I have been determined to bring only the best into my life, regardless of the circumstances. The rest, the mess, well, I let that stuff go.  

Sow an Action 

Frances E. Willard, an intelligent woman whom I never knew was a woman until Google. I always assumed (my big mistake) that Frances was a smart man with an androgynous name, but no, she is indeed a woman, a highly educated Christian woman who fought for women’s rights. And while doing so, she made many important statements, such as: 

“I would not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.” 

And, 

“Temperance is moderation in the things that are good and total abstinence from the things that are foul.” 

These are all words to live by.

However, my favorite quote of hers is, 

“Sow an action, you reap a habit; sow a habit, you reap a character; sow a character, you reap a destiny.” 

Frances e. willard @ reallyleah.com

I bet you’ve heard this quoted a hundred times and never knew that Ms. Frances Elizabeth Willard is responsible for this sage advice.  But she is, and she was correct because we have seen the fruits or results of a person who continues to sow good or bad into their lives. We have seen it portrayed in our favorite children’s stories and during the large screenings of our favorite marvel movies.

People who sow good things eventually reap good rewards, and people who sow terrible things, eventually reap (or reach) bad outcomes. This is not to say that bad things do not happen to good people because they do, but even when horrible things happen the situation does not ruin a good person’s reputation. And a good reputation, as Ms. Willard explains is the next step to a good destiny.  

Frances probably learned all about the mechanics of sowing and reaping from her father and farmer, Josiah Williard. And we can learn our best lessons from nature, too, because nature and divine laws do not change. “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked.”– Galatians 6:7a. God’s ways are consistent and will not change.  

Consistency is Key 

What we work at and put energy into, we will achieve, for good or for bad. Bible Scripture says it this way, “You will reap what you sow.” — Galatians 6:7b. Therefore, if we want to reap the best in life, we must practice sowing the best of our time, our talent, and the things we treasure. Furthermore, if we want less mess, we must practice eliminating it from our lives.

The key is consistency, and consistency requires patience. If we want the best things in life, it is not enough to wish for them. We must also be patient enough to allow the best things to bud and grow.  

For most of us, the patience we need to achieve our destinies will come by preparation, even before patience. If you are old enough to benefit from this topic, you have likely cultivated some poor or unhealthy habits—ones that have not yielded the best results. You are probably thinking of some of those habits right now and nodding your head in agreement. If only you did not enjoy eating dessert every night.  

Yeah, an excess of even “good” things can become a bad habit. So, we must take some time to re-train our minds—to bring in the best and rid ourselves of our former messy thoughts. And if we want to make good habits, we must be consistent. Scientists say at 21-days, a pattern forms, and then other neuroscientists say we need to repeat the 21-day cycle to make the best things stick for perpetuity.

Practical Suggestions 

One practical suggestion is to develop an annual habit of reviewing the past year and developing a plan for the new year. I begin my review after Christmas and complete my new plan before January 1st. Some people call these “resolutions” because they plan (for the future) based on considering the past.  

Whatever you call them, my resolutions usually turn out well for me. One reason is, I prayerfully consider what I want to bring into the new year, and then, I find pictures that correlate with my new year’s goals and create a vision board.  

Once my vision board is complete, I go one step further and place it somewhere in my bedroom where I can see that vision board first thing each morning.  

And without much work, I have sowed an action that is creating a habit, which is developing my character, and bringing me closer to my destiny (or goals), all before breakfast!

Each year, I have made this a habit. Some of the items on my vision board are relative to my physicality, some mental, some relational, and some spiritual. I prefer to set goals for my whole person—my spirit, soul, and body.  

All three components of me must be complete for the vision planning to work. Besides, why would I only want one part of my life to be satisfied? My goal is to grow in each of the three areas, so I include them all, and it works. 

Tangible Success 

Last year, I set my goals for 2020, and even during a pandemic, I had significant successes in every part of my life. While everything did not go my way or as planned, and the pain and injustices in the world grieved me, as they did everyone with an ounce of compassion, none of those negative occurrences ruined my year. 

2021 is not a makeup year for me. This new year is a continuation along the same right path set last year and the year before.  

The external negative things that will happen even in 2021 will not alter who I am or the purpose and destiny for my life. Again, I learned to let go of the mess as not to bring failure into my future.  

Furthermore, I do not make plans for things I cannot control, and I cannot control the universe. So, I sow or plant or set goals for things that are valuable and attainable to me. They are things worth reaping and I’m never dissatisfied.   

The Best Action Plan  

If you want to reach your destiny and succeed in your life, join me this month in a collective planning process for the year. I want to tell you what I know about being so down you’re praying to die and then finding reasons to live and thrive again. I want to share what has worked and what keeps me going so that you can thrive, too.  

Beginning January 10th, 2021, we will start our 21-day action plan for the best year yet. All you need to do today, if you have not already, is begin writing down “your best” goals for 2021. I have written twenty-one goals for 2021 because I felt led to do so. You may only have one, although I hope you have at least three. Remember, we are tri-part beings—we are spirits, with a soul, living in a body.  

Then rewrite your goals in the affirmative. For instance, one of my goals is “to do good and not evil, to serve selflessly and be blessed to be a blessing.” Being selfless is a good goal for me, but it will take practice to be generous and give without wanting anything in return. I know I must develop the character necessary to make this a reality. One way to get my faith up in this area is to write this goal as a declaration: “I will do good and not evil. I will serve selflessly and be blessed to be a blessing.” That is the test. If you can repeat your goal back to yourself and feel good about what you have written, then you are already bringing in the best and sowing seeds of success into your life. Plus the power of repetition is retraining your mind.

Once these simple tasks are complete, we will meet back here on January 10th at noon EST to go to the next step. 

So, let us review what is due in five days: 

1. Write down your best goals for 2021 in a journal or in your computer or phone. David Bach says, “Until it’s written down, it’s not a goal, it’s a slogan!” I say, if it is not written down, it is meaningless. We must write down what we value.
2. Rewrite each goal as an affirmation. If you are a person of faith, pray first and then write what is on your heart. And keep it to yourself for as long as you like. I will never ask you to share your goals or affirmations, nor do I suggest that you share them with anyone unless you need an accountability partner.

If you have questions, please ask in the comment section.  

I really want to make this a worthwhile experience for us all. Plus, I want to celebrate your successes with you at the end of the year!!!  

In the meantime, I will continue to post inspirational information to help us bring in the best and get rid of the mess. If you are on my email list, you will get notified automatically. So please subscribe.  

Yours truly, 

Leah 

Closing Words of Wisdom

“Make no mistake about it, God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that was planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self – life into this natural realm, you can expect to experience a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life, you will reap the beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” — Galatians 6:7-9 (TPT)