A couple of years back I wrote a piece titled, Are You in a Holding Pattern?

If so, it was time for a landing… Far too much time has been spent on Holding Patterns.  You’ve taken off countless times with no landing. Feeling that the conditions are unfavorable to land. Waiting for the perfect timing, waiting, and delaying, trying to allow others to secure their landing first. Concerned about everyone else, will they be ok or feel abandoned if I went ahead of them? Wondering if you have enough support to act now. Although, the Control Tower, the one that controls all, had given the clearance to land. The Lord has assured you that the conditions are optimal, and you have been cleared for a safe landing.

Now that the landing has taken place, you are no longer in a Holding Pattern, it’s important to manually navigate your journey of (re)discovery by being present, connected, and true to the Gift Called “You”. If you don’t you will find yourself living your life on Autopilot. 

Maybe you are already there.  Are you doing the same routine day after day, never remembering what you did the day before? Or even wondering what day it is? Do you have anything to look forward to? If you’re just focused on just getting through the day-to-day you have forgotten about your “Why”. The reason why you’re doing what you do, you are probably living your life and the relationships in it on autopilot.

The devastating part about living life on autopilot, especially when it comes to your relationships, is that you don’t even know that you’re doing it half the time. You’re just living your life, going through the motions wishing for more, but not sure, if there is more or how to get it.  While many people live their entire lives on autopilot (which is truly sad), the way to have truly rewarding and successful lives & relationships is to be fully aware and adaptable when it comes to life.  So, how do you do that?

1. Stop and smell the roses (literally): Take time to notice all the little things around you that you always used to look at when you were 6 years old!!!

·       Pause and Reflect

·       Take more Pictures

·       Connect with Others and Nature

2. Think about your short and long-term goals. Do you still have those? And if so – have you forgotten them? Or are your goals different, from what you thought would please others? Re-write that list and start working on accomplishing your true short-term goals.

·       (re)Set a goal or two

·       Write down the steps needed to achieve them

·       Track each step

3. Remember your relationship(s)? When was the last time you did something new with him/her? When was the last time you even wanted to? Start thinking about your relationships and stop just “being in it”.

·       Do Something Different

·       Practice being Present (Mindfulness)

·       Cut down on social media and electronics

Finally, if you are on autopilot there’s a reason why. Your life is out of sync.  It’s either too stressful, too complicated, too boring, or you have surrendered your life to the routine. I’m asking you to take one day this week and really think about your life and relationships. How can you shake things up? Make them interesting? How can you get back in sync and in love with your life again?

I appreciate the fact that God continued to replenish and refuel us during those times. He instructed us to land but we continued to hover, remaining suspended in one place in the air. Don’t you think we have hindered and blocked ourselves for much too long to end up on autopilot?

The journey you’re currently on and the place you’re in, what is your spirit speaking to you? God has prepared you for something Great.  Let’s embrace the fact, we do not have to see it all, that would not be Faith. We do not have to know all the answers, He is the ultimate Tour Guide for the journey of (re)discovering the Gift Called You”. 

So, what has God told you to do that you haven’t started doing yet? What are you waiting for? God has your best interests at heart. Go ahead and do what he’s told you to do. He’s making it Christal Clear.

Prayer: Father God thank you for your strong presence of timing. I feel the soft breeze as you continue to blow all internal and external hindrances and obstacles away. Lord, I invite you each day to a renewed cleansing of my fears, insecurities, discouragements, and heaviness that makes me want to quit and disconnect to be demolished. Amen!

Christal Woodruff