I approached the troubling corner while driving home from work. No! Just keep driving, don’t turn, don’t stop. Of course, I found an excuse for a quick stop at the corner grocery store for a bottle of wine.
A couple of glasses of wine after work took the edge off depression and loneliness. Until a couple of glasses became an entire bottle. Every day. My lack of self-control and expanding waistline disgusted me. Silence and loneliness in the empty house after a stressful day at work suffocated me like a prison cell. I realized something had to change.
I decided to try yoga, easy to do at home without facing all the attractive and physically fit people at the gym. So, I bought a beginning yoga DVD and a yoga mat and started doing the workout as soon as I got home from work. Immediately, the stress of the day disappeared. At last, my anxiety and worries did not overwhelm me. The house seemed less empty and lonely.
Choose to change
Change requires action. You cannot change by accident. We choose to change.
As Paul writes, “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:22–24 NLT).
Just like we throw off our old lives when we accept Christ as our Savior, we discard unhealthy habits and replace them with new, healthier ones. Disconnect from old ways and release them.
I remember long ago when I quit smoking; I started needlepoint to keep my hands busy. Don’t expect to stop a habit, unless you have a new one to put in its place.
However, letting go of old habits to create new ones requires commitment.
Commit to change
Let go of the old to make room for new, kind of like cleaning out a closet. Marie Kondo, the tidying expert and New York Times best-selling author, explains six rules of tidying. Number 1 is “commit yourself.”
Commit to change. Write it down in a journal or notes around the house to remind you. Tell a friend about your decision. Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you to a healthier way.
Envision your best life
Paul writes in the book of Romans for us to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2 ESV). After committing to change, we renew our thoughts and focus on the benefits of the changes.
Marie Kondo’s second rule for tidying up is “Imagine your ideal lifestyle.” She says “spark joy in your life and change it forever.”
Embrace new ways by envisioning the future. Change your life forever. Friend, I know change is hard. It’s a lot of work! But envision your best life fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. See yourself attaining your wellness goals. Imagine the future as a healthy and energetic person to serve God and others.
Conclusion
I felt a glimmer of hope when I changed my habit and stopped drinking. Practicing yoga instead was a small start, but it enabled me to envision a life without alcohol. Eventually, I found sobriety through God, Alcoholics Anonymous, and counseling.
Friend, you can live your best life! Choose to change and take the first step. Commit to the change and envision your best life. Our choices today determine the consequences tomorrow. So, choose to change.
Helpful links and resources
My blog posts about habits
- How to Change a Habit and Transform Your Life
- 3 Secrets to Change a Habit and Make it Last
- Now You Can Create Good Habits
Thank you for your encouraging words about choosing change, especially your transparency. I’ve found through prayer God does the change if we have a willing heart.
Thank you for your comment, Jeanette. So true, God helps us to change if we let Him.