Some Beats Not

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Happy new year to everyone celebrating! Have you noticed how autumn is the new January in many ways? Many are uninspired in the dead of winter to start a new routine or set new goals. But fall feels like a fresh start with a crisp focus. Many of us remember the back-to-school routine and welcome a chance to start something new.

Besides writing this blog, I have not one, but two jobs, and both follow this rhythm. In just a few days my students will be finding their way to their desks for the first time whilst I’ll be wearing my “teacher hat” at school. 

And all the church ministry programs and activities kick off this fall as well when I’m wearing my “church leader hat”. 

With this context in mind, I thought I would share with you something I am currently  preaching to myself.

Some beats not.

Keep reading to see what I mean: like many of you, I too, am setting goals and targets for this year. I have new learning strategies I’d like to implement for my students and new topics to explore during our chapel program each day. 

At church, I have ministry growth strategies that I’d like to implement, and biblical passages I’d like to preach on. I’ve got more ideas than I know what to do with and more plans than I have time for. And sometimes I get tired. And sometimes I get sick. And sometimes my kids are driving me bananas. And sometimes I get migraines because my monthly cycle is taking over my life. And sometimes life just happens and I don’t get as much done as I hoped to. 

Did I mention that I’m also trying to eat healthy, exercise, stay off socials, and maybe even hang out with my husband on occasion? 

Life can be a lot. We take on a lot and hope we reach our goals. When we don’t though, what happens then?

This is when some beats not. Doing some of what you planned on is better than not doing it all.

Let’s say you want to deadlift a certain weight by a certain date. That date starts to creep up and you are nowhere near lifting the weight you targeted for. What do you do? Well, you either give up and stop lifting, or you lift some. Lifting some beats, not lifting at all. I lift very close to zero pounds but I still know that some beats not lifting at all. 

Or let’s say you committed to cutting out sugar because of the way it affects your body, energy, and digestion. Many of us will eat something containing sugar and then just keep consuming things with sugar because we already broke that rule. Why not just start over? You ate the sugar, but you can start over. Having some sugar is better than not having any restraint over all the sugar in sight. My strategy: chew gum when I’ve already crossed the line and feel tempted to consume more. 

What about budgeting. Perhaps you went over your spending limit. The right thing to do isn’t to throw your arms up in the air and go on a shopping spree. Instead, see where else you could cut back. In this economy, I find it increasingly difficult to stick to a grocery budget, but that doesn’t mean I stop being mindful of that budget when I do go over. There are always more places to cut back. 

Did you go over your app limits? You can still be mindful of your phone usage. It’s amazing to me how easily I can stick to the app limit when I really want to. But as soon as I go over the limit, it’s as if I don’t care about restricting my phone use at all. Suddenly hours go by and the limits I’ve embedded to help me stay mentally healthy—they’re completely disregarded. If you can relate to this, I am in good company. But I know it isn’t where either of us wants to stay.

Did you fall behind in your reading plan? Bible-reading, or otherwise? Simply pick up reading wherever you left off. I love the idea that wherever you are in your reading, God can meet you there and have something for you specifically on that day. You don’t have to keep up with other people you have to keep up with wherever you are right now. Because that’s where God is. A friend of mine took 18 months to read a 12 month Bible reading plan. At the end of it, she said that she didn’t regret the pace because what she was reading in each season was exactly what she needed for that season. If you fell behind, just pick up where you left off. Reading some Scripture is better than not reading at all.

 The Value of an Author

This is about to get real, so buckle up. Sometimes I believe this lie that I’ve been feeding to myself for years: that nothing I do will really be a value until I publish a book. Unfortunately, I am not in the season of life where long-form writing is a possibility for me. Even though I know all this in my head, and I know the lie is exactly that, a lie, it’s sometimes hard to live like the lie isn’t true. 

And this is why some beats not is so helpful to me. I don’t have to write a whole book, and I don’t have to do it right now, but because I really want to, doing some beats not. 

Doing some writing beats not doing any at all.

Habit-forming vs. Rule-following

So as you start a new school year, a new ministry season, a new quarter in your business, a new venture, or the same old thing, remember that some beats not. Maybe your schoolwork will be overwhelming. Maybe your work tasks will be too demanding. Maybe you’ll stretch yourself too thin and fall off the bandwagon. Don’t give up! Just get back up. Take the next step even if it’s a tiny one. Lower the pressure for short term results, gaze far into the future instead. Consider what your life could be if you continue to remain mindful of your goals. Because this isn’t about rule-following for the sake of checking off some arbitrary boxes. Rather, it’s about habit-forming. To become the kind of people who don’t give up when it gets too hard, but get back up, and do some of what we plan to, rather than not do anything at all. 

What’s in the Ears

This is the part where I share a song or podcast I’m currently into. I listened to a podcast episode on That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs. She had Dr. Angie Smith on as the guest where they discussed the juggling act that is Angie’s life. Angie is a grade school teacher, author, speaker, and most recently earned her PhD. The episode was inspiring and discouraging at the same time. But a big takeaway for me was that if God calls you to something, he will work it out. And if he calls you to many things, he will work them out, too. Perhaps you, like me, are in the middle of your story. Friend, God will work it out. Let me know if you check it out that episode!

If this stirred something in you, share this post with a friend or drop a comment below. I’d love to hear what small step you’re taking towards the flourishing life today! And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing.

Podcast available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favourite streaming platform!