Wisdom-Trek ©

Creating a Legacy ™

The Cycles and Seasons of Life—Choose Friends Wisely

by Leave a Comment

In our previous Wisdom Note, we began a series called The Cycles and Seasons of Life, and specifically, Guarding Your Mind. This week we continue with choosing friends wisely. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read past newsletters.

It is now time to head out on the third trail of our trek as we consider and ponder the cycles and seasons of life. As we consider how others impact our lives and legacy, either positively or negatively, we must consciously choose who we invest a significant amount of time with. Today we will continue along that same trail.

Life is a delicate maneuver of selection, rejection, review, and change. Each person entering your world brings either a contribution or destruction. Trying to accommodate everyone is to invite certain disaster. Those with poisonous attitudes, strange opinions, and caustic conversations love to look for someone accommodating or nice who will listen to them. They love to dump their verbal garbage into the mental factory of anyone willing to listen. A major challenge in life is that you must learn the art of standing guard at the doorway of your mind. Carefully examine the credentials and authority of those seeking to enter within that place where your attitudes are formed.

The words, opinions, and comments of others are constantly shaping your mind and life. You must be careful who you invest time with because subtly, the conversations of fear, gloom, despair, complaining, condemning, and criticizing are forming your temporary moods and your permanent personality and character. Remember that.

Children are often told by well-intentioned but misguided parents that they are bad, naughty, selfish, or shy. Teachers by their actions or their expressions sometimes report to the parents that their child is slow, uncooperative, or poor as a student.

Throughout your early years, you may have been subjected to impulsive remarks of those who were unaware that it was those very words that were forming your character. As we become adults, we then seem to choose to associate with those most like you. The weak attracts the weak; the poor are most comfortable with the poor; the successful are drawn toward those who are successful; those of optimistic views and attitudes select those of their own kind. The old proverb “Birds of a feather flock together” is certainly true.

Fortunately, once you recognize this, you can change your flock if needed. What you have become as an adult largely determines the kind of people, events, books, podcasts, TV programs, and lifestyle that you select to invest your time.

If you are ever going to change your personal and financial circumstances from one level up to another, you must accept the fact that such progress consists of “doing” as well as “un-doing.” Many of the events and people who currently influence you must be sacrificed. Those sources of doubt, worry, negativity, greed, and selfishness must be cut free, for as long as that influence remains, change will not likely occur.

If you attempt to change yourself or your circumstances without severing the “mental anchors,” which you have attached to yourself then change is nearly impossible. “Undoing” the past is difficult enough by itself even without the constant influence of those who, by their conversation, remarks, or attitudes keep pulling you back toward that which you are trying to leave behind.

Does the following scenario sound like you? You are constantly trying to make ends meet and are paying only a portion of your debts, you’re buying the bargain-priced clothes, shopping to save a few pennies on a can of beans, and the countless other things because you are unable to earn enough money. If so, the day needs to come when you combine the right mixture of anger, frustration, humiliation, confidence, determination, and courage to say “Never again!” Your resolve to change yourself and your situation needs to be unshakeable. You will need to thrust yourself into reading the right books, dressing the right way, thinking the right thoughts, and going to the right places. Your life must be committed to changing your life for the better.

After your new-found commitment and new excitement, determination, and effort, imagine for a moment, what are your chances of success if you return and continue to be influenced by those whose voices ring with discouragement, ridicule, fear, and exaggerated doubt. There will always be a negative family member or friend who is there to say “For someone who’s always been broke, you’re sure putting on quite a show. Yeah, good luck with your changed life!”

If you make the commitment to changing your life, you must be very careful of the situation in this story. If you don’t change your environment, you will be subjected to and conflicted by both your “new determination to succeed” as well as to those close to you whose words remind you of an unproductive past. It is like being on a mental elevator ride; you move upward with your thoughts and actions, but some thoughtless person keeps pushing the “down button,” bringing you back to where you mentally began.

Your new confidence quickly gives way to old doubt; your new actions are overcome by old fears; and finally, you may return once more to that kind of thinking which put you on your mental and financial knees. Having brought you back from your world of dreams, ambition, and accomplishments with their well-meant but destructive opinions, your friends celebrate by inviting you to their Friday night party where once again you become active participants in the jokes, sarcasm, and gossip of those content with their own mediocrity. Having exchanged your dreams of a new life for the acceptance of old things, you make the quiet transition to never again try, plan, dream, explore, or achieve.

The value of surrounding yourself with the right friends is immeasurably awesome. The danger of surrounding yourself with the wrong friends can be devastating. Perhaps a good theme might be— “Friendship in proportion to the right personal growth from that friendship.”

Be very aware that the “right” friends should not be equated to those who seem to have the “most” money. It is the attitudes, awareness, and other positive human virtues of the friends you select that are of importance. Not all poor people make poor friends, nor do all rich friends have an enriching effect on your lives. Carefully examine the “friends” you have…not their assets or accomplishments. By examining your friends from both ends of the financial spectrum, you may discover there are several rich as well as poor “friends” whom you can no longer afford to associate.

As my mentor, Jim Rohn is quoted as saying, “You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” If this is, in fact, the case, then you need to analyze who you invest the most time with and how they are influencing you in any or all areas of life. If you do not like what you discover, then you need to begin the process of change. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can change other people to be what you want them to be. It is difficult enough to change yourself and impossible to change others.

You may be able to positively impact others to change their mindset. But beware that it is a slow process, and they have to choose to change. You must be very careful if you choose to associate with those who may negatively impact you in any manner. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”

I feel strongly that this also applies to our mindset. You become what you dwell on in your minds. All of our minds are impacted significantly by those with whom we invest a lot of time. Although it may be hard to distance yourself from negative influences, it is imperative. This does not mean you shun or alienate others, but realizing that anything that impacts you negatively should be minimized. It is your responsibility to maximize your God-given potential as Ephesians 5:15 tells us, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.”

That is the end of the trail for this week’s Wisdom Notes as we pondered the cycles and seasons of life once again. On our trek, we learned the huge impact and influence our family, friends, and associates really have on our mindset and our lives.

Next week in our Wisdom Notes we will expand this concept as we hike the Trail of Attitude. We need to make sure what we allow in our minds will help us to grow and succeed. As mentioned in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Carefully choose those individuals with whom you invest time. The life you live will be impacted by those choices.

We have traveled a few more paces on our journey this week, and there is much to consider. We will continue this trail in our next Wisdom Journal as we learn how to choose that our attitude impacts the cycles and seasons of life, so don’t miss it. Encourage your friends and family to join us on our 5-day a week podcast: Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

As the economy both in the United States and around the world continues to open up and expand, let us be in prayer for many individuals and businesses which have been severely impacted. Also let us still be considerate of those individuals who are in a high-risk group for the pandemic and keep them safe. It may be required that we personally sacrifice our desires and freedoms at times for those most vulnerable.

Advice for a Younger Generation

by Leave a Comment

In our previous Wisdom Note, we learned to accept responsibility using the phrase “The Buck Stops Here.” In this note, we will provide advice for a younger generation. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to catch previous installments.

In times like this, it seems like only one thing is on our mind. Right now, that is Covid-19. Our lives are on hold for the next couple of months, and this is something most of us are not comfortable with. It gives us time to pause and reflect on how short life really is and how important it is to live our positive legacy each day.

Since I will be 64 this summer, I am reaching the age where I have gained enough experience and wisdom to be able to understand certain truths about life. Our current crisis will be over eventually, and life will resume with some normalcy. Some of this advice may have to be delayed for a time, but not forever. If you learn the following truths while you are younger, they will help you to live the rich and satisfying life that we are designed to live at every age.

So whether you are 5 or 105, here is…

Advice for a Younger Generation

  1. When you are in your 20s through 50s, you won’t feel like you are that age. – Adults are just older children. When you get older, you won’t feel as old as you imagine you will. For the most part, you still feel exactly the way you feel right now, just a little wiser and more confident. I certainly find this to be very true. Don’t fear growing up. Look forward to it. It’s awesome.
  2. Bad things will happen to you and your friends. – Part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life. People lose jobs, get in car accidents, and sometimes die. The smartest and often hardest thing you can do in these kinds of situations is to be at peace and be filled with compassion. When bad things happen, you may feel like becoming angry. Instead choose to be wiser and more disciplined. Remember that emotional rage only makes matters worse. Also, remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.
  3. Everyone can make a huge difference. – Making one person smile can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but at least that person’s world. So, start small and start now.
  4. First impressions aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. – Everyone and everything seems normal from a distance or at a glance. The 10th, 20th, or even the 50th impression is when you start to truly understand someone else for who that person truly is.
  5. Big results come when you narrow your focus. – Concentrate your efforts on smaller and smaller areas. In other words, niche down. When your efforts are diffused over a wide area, they won’t have much of an impact. So, focus on smaller areas, and your efforts will be felt more fully. It could take time for change to happen, but keep that focus narrow.
  6. Love yourself. Become your own priority. – Strive to be the “you” you want to be. Nourish your body, mind, and soul. Invest in self-improvement every day until you die.
  7. Sometimes you just have to go for it. – Put your uncertainty and fears aside for a second and ask yourself this, “If I try and I don’t get it right the first time, what will I have lost and what will I have gained?” The answer is, “You will have lost nothing but a little bit of your time while gaining an important lesson that will help you get it right the second or third time.” People rarely get it right the first time. The people who are successful are the ones who did not quit.
  8. In order to get, you have to give. – Supporting, guiding, and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards. Everything you do comes back around.
  9. Not much is worth fighting about. – If you can avoid it, don’t fight. Step back from arguments with your spouse, family members, or neighbors. When you feel anger surging up, and you want to yell that vulgar remark on the tip of your tongue, just close your mouth and walk away. Let yourself calm down. You don’t have to be right or win an argument. It just doesn’t matter.
  10. Don’t try to impress everyone. – Purposely impressing people is an act that brings nothing but a momentary ego boost. Be real with people instead. Connect with fewer people on a level that is deeper and more profound.
  11. Keep having fun. – Fun is way underrated. With all of life’s responsibilities, fun will sometimes seem like an indulgence. It shouldn’t be. It should be a requirement. Make time for fun in the everyday pleasures of life. The real fun does not have to be expensive, and many times it is free.
  12. Keep it simple. – There is a world of magnificence hidden in simplicity. Pick the five most important things in your life now and focus on those things. Let the other stuff go. Stop the busyness and really enjoy what’s important to you.
  13. Little things stick with you. – So pay attention to them…Watching your child sleep. Preparing a meal with your family. Sharing a great laugh with an old friend. This is the stuff real life is made of.
  14. Less advice is often the best advice. – People don’t need lots of advice. They need to live. They need to see others that have lived well so they can learn from their lives. Your life stories, like the answers we give to long essay questions, are uniquely yours. We just need to be a beacon of hope for others. We all just need time to think, be, and breathe, and continue to explore the undirected journeys that will eventually help us find our direction.
  15. Manage your life. – Your situation and environment is ever-changing, so be careful not to confuse things that are urgent with things that are important.
  16. Manage your money. – Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. Don’t spend more than you make. Don’t let your money manage you.
  17. What you learn in school does matter. – While you may not use the specifics of every classroom lesson, every lesson does expand the core thought process of your mind. Over time, you will develop problem-solving skills that are universally applicable.
  18. Dreams will remain dreams forever if you don’t take action. – Don’t dream about it anymore. Start doing it. In 40 years from now, what is it that you will regret not having accomplished, appreciated, or attempted? Do it, appreciate it, and attempt it NOW!

God’s faithfulness in our lives is available with each new morning, regardless of your age. As Lamentations 3:22-24 states, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!’”

As we ponder this advice for a younger generation, we realize that it is never too late to put this advice into practice, no matter your age. Over the next couple of weeks, we will explore the trails that will teach us that you always have a choice. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

5 Essential Elements of Success

by Leave a Comment

In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored six guideposts to live an effective life. This week we will expand our thoughts about life and how we can be successful. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read past newsletters.

What does it take to be successful in any area of life? Here are five elements that will help.

1. Passion

Bill Gates was able to build Microsoft and became the richest man in the world because he was passionate about his vision of putting “a computer on every desk in every home.” Passion, defined as intense emotional excitement, goes beyond mere enthusiasm.

How Passion Is an Element of Success

A person with passion is a person who can set goals. Without them, you’ll have no clear direction and will drift along the road of circumstances. Another technology visionary, Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer, abandoned his studies at Reed College to pursue more lucrative goals. Once he identified his passion, he was impatient with a slow path to carrying it out. You, too, can recognize your passions. When you share your goals with others, however, don’t be surprised to hear things like, “Yes, but that’s not realistic,” or “That’s not practical.”

“You see things and say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say ‘Why not?’” – George Bernard Shaw

2. Determination

A couple of years ago we watched a Dolly Parton TV special called A Coat of Many Colors. It was touching and inspiring. When it was Dolly’s turn at her high school graduation to announce her plans, she said, “I’m going to Nashville to become a star.” The entire place erupted in laughter. She was stunned, but that laughter instilled in her an even greater determination to realize her dream. Dolly went on to write over 3,000 songs. Today she holds the record for the number of awards for a female artist – including seven Grammy Awards and an Emmy. The first year her theme park Dollywood opened, in 1986, gross business revenues for the city of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, jumped 47% over the previous year. Her Imagination Library program has been adopted in 600 communities in 41 states. Dolly is respectfully referred to as the “Tennessee Icon.”

How Determination Is an Element of Success

Without determination, a person can easily be lured away from their path. Many years ago, Viktor Frankl said, “Without a clear purpose, any obstacle will send a person in a new direction.” Stephen Covey, in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, talks about the tendency to respond to circumstances rather than priorities. Just recognize that if you respond to circumstances, any obstacle will send you off in a new direction. But with determination, you can establish priorities that will guide you through even challenging and unexpected circumstances.

3. Talent

As a young boy, Walt Disney lived in a world of fantasy and entertainment. When he first approached a Kansas City newspaper with his drawings, the editor told him, “These won’t do. If I were you, I’d give up this work. From these sketches, it’s obvious your talent lies elsewhere.” Walt could have easily given up. Here was a known “expert” telling him he had no talent for cartooning. He could have easily made excuses for not pursuing his dream to draw and write. All he could find for a studio was an old mouse-infested garage, but in that studio, Walt continued to draw his cartoons. We all know how one of those mice became an international household word. Talent is a funny thing. If you wait for perfect conditions, they will likely never appear.

How Talent Is an Element of Success

Talent allows a person to focus. No one has talent in every area; discover where you rise to the top. What are those things you love to do whether or not you get paid? Sometimes we discover that our first sense of “calling” is guided more by others’ expectations than as a true reflection of our strongest areas of competence. Your talent is an essential element for success when combined with the other elements. It may require that you invest heavily to allow your talent to bring success, but investment in yourself is never a loss. “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

4. Self-Defense

Years ago, Jenny Craig was faced with losing 45 pounds. While losing it, she gained the self-discipline she needed to launch her own company. The estimated annual company sales today are $400 million.

How Self-Discipline Is an Element of Success

Without self-discipline, a person can easily be swayed by others. Self-discipline is the foundation that makes the other elements work. Knowing the other elements is the initial step, but acting on them always requires self-discipline. Self-discipline is not a hardship. It is a joy to be focused and intentional while others around you evidence their floundering lives with wasted time and resources. Maya Angelou persisted in her writing even when others discouraged her. At the time of her death, she enjoyed over $4 million yearly income.

5. Faith

Even with everything lining up logically or financially, real success requires that step of faith into the unknown. Remember Thomas Edison’s 10,000 failed attempts to invent the light bulb? He has the passion, determination, talent, and self-discipline to carry him on, but that alone did not bring him success. He had unwavering faith to believe that if God had allowed him to see it in his mind, it could become a physical reality.

How Faith is an Element of Success

Faith is best described in Hebrews 11:1-3, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

The five elements that we discovered this week will help us to refocus our lives so that we invest our time into what is most important and will bring success to our life purpose. Next week on our trek, we will study the ten laws of a living legacy. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

A Wise Child

by Leave a Comment

In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored 10 Truths for a Successful Life. These bits of wisdom help us to live a rich and satisfying life while creating a living legacy. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to catch previous installments.

The Book of Proverbs is considered the book of wisdom. This week we will explore the first three verses of Chapter 10:

This is the second major section in the Book of Proverbs, which begins with Proverbs 10:1 and continues on through Proverbs 22:16. This section contains 375 short compare and contrast statements that are actually poems in the original Hebrew text. Most poems have two lines, and each poem is one verse long. Each poem is called a “proverb.” Keep in mind as we work our way through these proverbs that they are not specific “commands” from God, but general precepts, that if followed will prove true.

The structure of this section is unusual. Solomon did not separate the proverbs into groups. The proverbs change from one subject to another. However, their order does matter. Solomon uses an “organic” or “natural” order in his writings. This order is similar to a conversation. For example, one proverb might explain the previous one, and another proverb might contrast with the previous one.

Together, these proverbs are like a conversation. Imagine as we sit around camp today that we are a group of wise people talking about wisdom. Each person in the group speaks briefly. We all listen to each other. Then, each person tells his thoughts or ideas to the other people. The conversation would be similar to this section of the book of Proverbs. As we go through these proverbs and you have some thoughts on them, please leave comments on each day’s journal pages so that we can all grow in wisdom.

We should desire wisdom more than we desire wealth. These proverbs discuss many different subjects. However, all these subjects start with the first proverb. This proverb is about the difference between a wise child and a foolish child. The difference is (of course) wisdom. So, let’s start with verse 1…

1 The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child brings joy to a father;
a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

Just in case we were unsure the chapter reminds us that these proverbs were indeed written by King Solomon, the wisest person to ever live.

From verse one we discover several words in this verse contrast with other words. “Wise” contrasts with “foolish.” “Father” contrasts with “mother.” “Joy” contrasts with “grief.”

Without generalizing too much, when I read this verse it makes me think of the differences between a father and mother. When a child does well, in this case, makes wise decisions, the father takes great pride in this – maybe even taking some credit for the child’s wisdom. In contrast, when a child is unwise the mother takes it much more personally as if there were something she did or did not do that made the child make foolish decisions. Going to the extreme in either case for a parent is not wise.

This is especially true as the child grows older and into adulthood. The child is then responsible for his own actions. Although we as parents and grandparents do continue to greatly influence our children and grandchildren, ultimately the decisions that they make, either wise or foolish, are their responsibility. Just remember to live your legacy each day.

2 Tainted wealth has no lasting value,
but right living can save your life.

If you obtain money illegally or unethically then it has no lasting value. You could argue that this is not true. If you obtain money illegally then you can still spend it. You can buy many things. We have all read about people who have become wealthy through illegal, or more likely unethical practices. Solomon argues that this type of wealth is worth nothing. We already have learned that the wealth of wisdom has far greater value than monetary wealth. Money is never more than a tool for good or bad…nothing more. Wisdom is better than money because wisdom will allow you to make the choices that will preserve your life long term. So if a poor man is wise, then he is richer than the wealthiest person who has obtained his wealth through illegal or unethical means.

3 The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,
but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

As we apply God’s general guidelines to our lives and as we follow His precepts, we will be taken care of in all essentials of life. There is an analogy that can also be gleaned from this verse. If we do what is right in life and business, we will be satisfied with what we have, regardless of whether it is little or much. If we do what is wicked, no matter how much we have in possessions, we will not find satisfaction in them and will be continually seeking more. This insatiable desire for more “things” is certainly evident in many Western cultures today.

What great wisdom nuggets we have uncovered today. Although it may take several weeks for each chapter, if our lives are changed by what we uncover, then it will be worth digging for. We will continue with a few more nuggets of wisdom from Chapter 10 Next Week. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

5 Tips to Navigate Life’s Transitions

by Leave a Comment

In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored six essential waypoints to live a better life. These bits of wisdom help us to live a rich and satisfying life while creating a living legacy. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read previous articles.

Just as the seasons change, life brings with it major transitions, and this week we will explore the…

5 Tips to Navigate Life’s Transitions

Change is inevitable and at times, those changes come in the form of major life transitions. Sometimes the transitions we face are welcome and joyous, such as graduating, getting married, having a new baby, starting a business, or moving to a new house. We feel excited about the possibilities ahead and look forward to the positive changes these events will bring to our lives.

However, transitions we don’t want or didn’t ask for often come our way as well. Divorce, losing a job, a business failure, sudden illness or injury, and the loss of a loved one are all examples of major transitions that do not initially appear favorable or desired. These changes can leave us feeling understandably angry, anxious, and depressed.

Regardless of the circumstances, navigating any kind of life transition often causes us to feel like a fish out of water. It leaves us in an awkward emotional place that demands us to respond in new ways and possibly even adapt to a different way of life. We often long for the way things used to be. Here are some tips for navigating these unfamiliar times and creating a new “normal.”

1. Acknowledge the Transition

Be honest with yourself about how the transition affects your daily life, old patterns, and routines. When we are unable to rely on our former expectations or daily routines, it can leave us feeling unstable and overwhelmed. Fighting the transitions that occur in our lives can cause greater frustration and keep us from adapting to its new aspects.

2. Expect to Feel

Any life transition, whether wanted or unwanted, leaves us with many conflicting emotions. A new baby is a joyful and exciting addition to life, but can also make new parents feel anxious and overwhelmed until settling into new routines and ways of life with the child.

Feelings of excitement, anxiety, depression, and anger are common when adapting to life transitions. Additionally, it is natural to have feelings of grief and loss as we move forward in life and leave things behind. It’s healthy to feel all of the feelings that occur with any of these transitions. Even so, it’s important to move through these emotions and not get “stuck” in the anger, anxiety, or depression for too long.

3. Listen to Your Body

Navigating any major transition can be stressful and impact us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Make sure to get proper devotional time, rest, nutrition, and exercise; this can be a great way to lay a healthy foundation.

Know when it’s time to take a break, do something fun, or go out with friends. Or, join a small group Bible study can to gain balance if you are stuck in a place of uncertainty. Having realistic expectations and timeframes for the transitions can serve as a reminder to take it one day at a time.

4. Look for New Opportunities

When it feels like life has been flipped upside down and is no longer recognizable, it is easy to look only at the loss or the negative aspects of the transition. However, these times of transition can also be great opportunities to explore new things in your life.

Times of change are a great chance to meet different people, try new things, use your skills in a unique way, or step back and re-prioritize your life. You may get a new and better job, start a business based on your experience and expertise, or form relationships with new friends. Whatever the case may be, looking for new opportunities can help the makeover of your life be positive.

5. Get Support

It’s hard to do it all alone. Leaning on others and learning from others can give the moral support you need to feel more grounded and to move on from the transition. Friends, family, church, small group Bible studies, or a professional can help support you during this time of upheaval. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; be specific with what you need and how you can be best supported during this time. If you feel stuck in the loss, anger, anxiety or depression that comes with life transitions, find a pastor, counselor, or other professionals who can help you with the emotional and spiritual stress of moving on.

Letting go of the old and embracing the new during life transitions can be hard. At times, it may feel like things will never be normal again. While the circumstances are often different, doing the hard work of letting go and moving on can bring about positive results with time.

Getting support and looking for opportunities in these times can provide us with the ability to grow in previously unimaginable ways. Finally, it’s important to be patient and remember this season of life will not last forever. The transitions we struggle with today eventually will become new routines that will lead to a new “normal.”

In addition to the 5 tips just mentioned, as a Christ-follower, I feel that ultimately the key to assisting us during the difficult times of transitions is the strength that we can gain from God through His Word, which is summed up in Romans 8:26-30, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

Along our trek for this week, we visited the five tips to navigate life’s transitions. Next week we will explore the ten secrets of sustained success. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.