Instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions that require that I do more or be more, I’ve decided I’ll aim for less so I can make room for God. Let me explain.
It happens every year. About a week before the calendar rolls over and ushers in a new year, I start seeing posts about New Year Resolutions and offers for courses and strategies to “Make this the best year ever” for weight loss, organization, dreaming bigger, exercising more and weighing less. You get the idea.
As a psychologist, I understand how easy it is to get swept up in the momentum of the New Year resolution making. January first offers the hope of better things to come. Out with the old, and in with the new. And we know that by and large, if it is to be, it’s up to us.
Doing less to make room for God
The problem is, when real-life demands haven’t changed, and our mind hasn’t caught up to our heart in terms of desire and motivation, resolutions often fall flat, goals remain unachieved, and self-esteem flattened. For myself, when I set my sights on resolutions that require that I be more, do more, and try harder, then when I fall short, it sends the exact opposite message: that I am less than.
Rather than aiming for all those areas that require I do more to be more, I’ve decided to focus my attention on those things that I can do less of to make room for God: those habits, attitudes, and behaviors that hinder me from living the joyful life Christ came to give.
15 Habits, attitudes and behaviors that hinder joyful living
Here are some of the things I’m going to do less of in the new year:
- Negative Thinking
- Self-criticism
- Criticizing Others
- People Pleasing
- Procrastination
- Self-Doubt
- Overscheduling
- Fear of Failure
- Fear of Not Being Enough
- Fear of Success
- Distrusting God
- Toxic Relationships
- Guilt
- Shame
- Worry About the Future
What happens when we make room for God?
In their place will be much more room for the truth about what God says about me, and his plans and purposes for my life, which he has declared good and filled with a future and hope! (Jer. 29:11)
Perhaps you’d like to join me. What will you do LESS of in the coming year?
Now that you know what to do less of, what do you do instead? What to do instead of New Year’s Resolutions or Getting back to what really matters.
(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study offer hope for overcoming depression.
Available now through book retailers!
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand: how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
Aiming for less <– I love this. Less stress would be at the top of my list. Less worry. Less guilt. Less of me, more of Jesus. Thanks for sharing this. Found it on the link up on Woman-to-Woman. 🙂
Love this, Michelle! I’m going with less self-criticism! And always, more of Jesus! Thanks so much for sharing this at Faith ‘n Friends Link Party! Blessings!!
I think your list of “less” is full of things many struggle with …I know I do! Wonderful insights, and I’m so intrigued by your book, “Hope Prevails.” I watched a very good friend struggle with depression over the last year. I think a book that guides us “friends” trying to help is so essential, and such a gift. Happy Monday! Megs
I’m sitting here aiming for less guilt at not being the perfect wife, mother, teacher, writer – person! Less guilt, more joy! 🙂
I love this list! It’s so easy to get caught up in doing more, producing more, being more…and, the list goes on. My main daily goal is more of Him and less of me. I’m so much more productive in my thoughts, words and deeds, when I put Him at the forefront of my mind. Thanks, for a great post. Cynthia
What a great list! Those are things I am going to strive to worry less about too. Blessed to be your neighbor at the Ra Ra linkup this week.
Yes, yes, yes!!! This is exactly what I needed to hear today, and so much of what God is showing me. I’m going to fully, vulnerably confess a struggle and what God is showing me about it.
I struggle with thinking my husband is going to cheat on me. He has never shown anything that would make me think that. This comes 100% from me and my insecurities and weakness. I would often see his phone and think “I bet he has texts to other women on there” (which has never happened and we both have full access to one another’s accounts and devices). Again….all my stuff. God is challenging me to believe in the 18 years of foundation I have with my husband. Every time I see his phone, God is showing me to say, “my husband loves me” instead of entertain the insecurities.
I want to believe what God says about me. I want to believe what my husband says about me. To do that, I have to let go of the lies and insecurities I say about me.
So grateful for your list today!
Yes…15 times…to each of those items!! I pray that those are the things I can generously get rid of to replace by the hope, the love, the peace of Christ. God’s grace and mercy, His constant help in times of trouble. Thanks, Michelle, for this reminder. May your 2020 be filled with the peace of our Lord.
I do love this message!!! I want to do less of all those 15 things so I can make more room for the Lord in my life. I cannot do without Him. I want Him to be totally in control and fill my life so I must make room for Him. I think we fill our lives with clutter and the clutter is a big hindrance to our relationship with the Lord. So thank you for voicing all of these things that I can adjust so the Lord has more opportunities in my life. Thank you for always giving encouraging messages and practical information and helps for us. It means so very much to me. I know I can trust you for you are trusting God and doing what He tells you to do. I love you Michelle!
thanks for this reminder to shed all that stuff that so quickly encumbers and discourages us …
bless you.
What a GREAT post, Michelle!!! I so needed this today!
Pinned & tweeted.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Less is More, applies here. I have chosen to watch less t.v. so that I can write more. It will not be easy. My husband keeps the television on almost every wakening hour for background nose which means I will need to leave the room to accomplish this goal. Pray for me. I can do it with God’s help.