Stop Wasting Time! #1 Biggest Lesson Learned in 2016

In order to go after your purpose you have to stop wasting time on things that don’t get you closer to fulfilling your purpose!

Time is one of those things that you never get back. You can waste time daydreaming, you can waste time fantasizing about the future, you can even waste time thinking too hard about what move you’re going to make next.

If you think about how much time you’ve wasted in 2016, it’ll really help you to better prepare for 2017 by using your time more effectivley.

So… I challenge you to let go of a few time wasters in 2017. Time wasters can include but are not limited to:

1. Fake friends
2. Situationships with no definition
3. A negative mindset
4. Overthinking your next steps
5. Underestimating your awesomeness
6. Hesitation due to fear
7. Delayed obedience to God

These are just to name a few, but I think they are pretty significant.

Girl, get rid of fake friends.

Let’s be honest. Useless relationships and fake friends are a complete waste of time. Get you some real ones. The ones who truly care and are there for you through the thick and thin. The ones who push you to be all that you can be and won’t hold you back from doing everything you should be doing. Fake friends smile in your face, but in reality they just aren’t there for the long haul nor are they there for the right reason.

Some people can come into your life at a moment when everything seems right, but in reality, they might actually be a hindrance to your progress. It’s so important to evaluate every single person that comes into your life, and if you can’t put your finger on exactly why they’re there, then maybe they shouldn’t be there at all.

I challenge you to evaluate every friendship in your life to see whether they make the cut in 2017. Your friends should challenge you, stretch you, build you up, encourage you, be loyal to you, and push you to be the best possible you. True friends do not distract you from your purpose. You’re in for something bigger and better, and some people just don’t deserve to make it to the next part of your journey!

Situationships are always sticky, and you don’t need them.

A situationship is defined by a lack of definition as they do not have defined boundaries. They’re confusing and are a complete waste of your time. The sad thing is situationships are one of those things that you allow to waste your time. You (and all the greatness you come with) can live without the confusion of a sitiuationship. It’s sad that we can easily get sucked into them if we’re not careful, which is why it’s so important to have and keep high standards to live by. It’s tough to let go of something that you thought might be real, but you have to look at the facts and know that you deserve more than a situationship that lacks boundaries and true, healthy benefits.

You have to let go of any negative mentalities you may have.

A negative mindset will always hold you back. Let go of negative mentalities such as thinking that you’re not good enough. Or that you don’t have what it takes to be as successful as you’d like to be. I challenge you to put such mentalities in the past and make sure they never make it beyond 2016! In order to move forward with purpose, you have to be willing to accept the fact that there’s something wrong with the way you think if you’re not quite where you want to be, yet. This means that you have to be willing to let go of these mentalities in exchange for something greater.

Remember Proverbs 23:7. Put your mind in a healthy place and focus on the things that are good to think about (Philippians 4:8). That’s how you develop a healthy thought life, which plays a major part in taking you where you need and want to go in life. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones, and prepare yourself for the unimaginable.

When you think too hard, it wastes your time. 

Yes, darling, there’s a such thing as thinking TOO hard. Sometimes we spend too much time thinking about something on our own that we waste time going through the cycle of thinking too much. I’ve learned to submit my thoughts to other people for a reality check, and get wise, godly counsel from those I trust. That’s why the Bible tells us there’s safety in a multitude of counsel (Proverbs 11:14). When you think about all of the times you’ve thought too hard about something, you’ve likely wasted time just spending time thinking instead of taking action. Ask yourself in what ways have you delayed your progress in 2016 due to thinking too hard.

Spending too much time thinking about what move to make isn’t really the best use of your time. The more you DO, the more you’re able to truly learn. Start making moves instead of thinking so much that you don’t make any progress. Go out there and do the work, and I promise you’ll learn so much more in the process.

Stop underestimating yourself.

I know sometimes you think you don’t know enough to go out there and do everything you want to accomplish, but I want to point out one major thing. You are amazing, so stop underestimating your abilities. When you tap into your God-given abilities, you will be given the grace to do and accomplish all that God has planned for you. When looking at everything you want to do, it can be kind of scary. It can kind of seem TOO big to accomplish, but I want to challenge you not to discount your amazingness. Do not underestimate your ability and the gifts that God has given you.

When you underestimate your ability, it’s natural to move at a slower pace. Moving too slowly wastes precious time when you have people’s lives to change. When you look at it like that, you realize that underestimating your ability wastes valuable time that can be used to impact the people you’re called to.

Hesitation wastes your time and might even be hidden fear. 

Hesitation is almost as bad as complete paralysis because hesitation wastes your time and has potential to make you miss your moment. When you have an awesome idea, dream, business plan (etc.), hesitation can be one of the biggest time wasters. Hesitation is nothing but a mask of doubt and fear. When you know God has given you an idea, it’s so important for you to move on it.

I’ve had plenty business ideas that I’ve had and never acted on… Just to find out that years down the line someone else had my same idea and made millions from it. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but it taught me not to take any idea I get for granted. It taught me not to hesitate when I get a good idea in front of me. Don’t be like the old me. Learn not to miss your moment just because you’re afraid it might not work or because you don’t know exactly how to make it happen.

Delayed obedience to God may make you miss your moment!

When God tells you to do something, just obey! We waste so much time in our lives because we refuse to obey God immediately. We can sometimes go back and forth with Him as if what we know outweighs what He knows. I’ve learned to obey God without delay simply because when I’m slow to follow His instructions, I find myself in a much bigger mess than I ever anticipated.

Ask yourself what ways you’ve been slow to respond to the promptings of God. Ask yourself how you can be more quick to obey so that you don’t waste time going through unnecessary cycles that don’t get you much progress. Spend some time really reflecting on what you can do to live a life more pleasing to God by following the instructions He gives. The more you reflect, you’ll see that when God gives you instructions it pays to obey Him the first time… and to do so quickly.

I’m convinced that next year is going to be one of your best years in history. Learn to refocus and waste less time, and you’ll be able to quickly be catapulted into your God-given destiny. BUT it all starts with your self reflection and your willingness to stop wasting precious time!