Having a victim mentality is the catalyst for a life of chronic unmet needs and progress. Blaming others for not having what they want, or need is easy. I am reminded of the scripture in John 5 :1-6. Soon, another Feast came around, and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”
Did you catch the ending? “Somebody else is already….”
In verses 8-9, Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, and start walking.” The man was healed on the spot, so he picked up his bedroll and walked off.
Whose permission are you waiting on to take up your bedroll and start walking? (I am speaking metaphorically here)
What is keeping you stuck? Who has shackled your feet, hands, mind, or voice?
Why are you missing out on moments that could bring your soul to life?
Why throw away opportunities, blessings, healing, growth, or relationships?
It’s time to quit giving CPR to practices that suck the life out of you—being stuck in repeated unhealthy behavior is destroying. It destroys your creative ability, relational capacity, livelihood, health, and mental and spiritual well-being.
Are you a workaholic, thinkaholic, or talkaholic?
A workaholic can be anyone who chooses to work around the clock to avoid the responsibility of dealing with their emotional stuff or family environment.
A thinkaholic over-analyzes everything and bases their decisions primarily on anxiety, rarely acts, or is often too late.
A talkaholic often expresses their intention but never follows through.
How many opportunities have been missed? How often have you missed experiencing life-giving moments simply because you were waiting for someone to give you a nudge?
How many times have you put off trying because someone else was already succeeding? Instead, you became envious and fell into a trap of self-pity.
Each day, we are all allotted the same number of hours to achieve our goals. Despite a workday that may include at least 8 hours, plus around 2 hours of commuting, meal preparation, daily tasks, and caring for children, there are still moments in between. These can be utilized as 'micro-minutes'—small intervals of five, ten, or fifteen minutes. During these brief periods amidst your busy schedule and to-do list, you can pursue personal objectives such as studying, meditating, exercising, journaling, writing a book, creating art, or reconnecting with someone special.
Blaming someone for not being where you wanted to be in life or having your needs met is futile. It will never bring results. You will be like that man on the mat for thirty-eight years, waiting for someone to give him permission to get up.
It is no one else’s responsibility to get your needs met.
No one else’s responsible for making you work towards your goals.
No one else’s responsible for turning the lights on in your soul.
Unless you are completely clinically physically, and mentally disabled, there is no reason to not take responsibility for your life.
But if you need help…. It is your responsibility to ask for it. Asking for help is taking responsibility for what you need.
Awaken your spirit! Breathe life into your soul. The world needs you to be vibrant and alive, for in doing so, you allow the rest of the world to follow suit!
Brenda Graff
Wellness Life Coach
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