Do you ever feel stuck in a rut, unable to find a direction in life or motivation? When I’ve felt this way, the best thing I can do for myself is to ask God to help me change my perspective to be more like His. In other words, I ask God for the ability to view life and its challenges with a new lens, to develop values and ideals that both drive and provide me with much-needed direction.

If you find that you’re feeling this way, then I hope this blog can help you find that kind of perspective in your own life. Below are a few things that I felt God used in my life to help change my perspective.

Prayer & Meditation

First and foremost, I want to tell you that prayer and time spent meditating on scripture is what truly changed, and continues to change, my perspective for the better. I think one of the hardest things we have to learn to do in this life, is to learn how to control all the many anxious thoughts in our minds. If, however, you feel like you want to spend dedicated time to this away from home, I’ve known of several friends who have gone on meditation retreats in order to get away from the stresses of life and refocus. So if you’re really struggling with inner peace and high anxiety, maybe try places like Spring Water Meditation Center that help you learn how to clear your mind and become more aware of your thinking habits. Learning how to clear your thoughts, paired with relational prayer with God can greatly help our ability to be more positive, find inner peace, and control how we react in difficult situations.

Faith & Church

As I grew in my prayer life, I found that simultaneously my faith also grew. I think it’s safe to say that faith one of the most difficult aspects of our spiritual life because it requires us to give up control and trust God. Whether it’s because you were raised in a church or you never talked about God growing up, fully trusting God can be a struggle. The only way I have been able to learn to do this, has been by attending a church that invests in my personal relationship with God If you’ve never done the church thing, but might interested, then maybe look up some local churches in your area that share your core values (their beliefs are typically stated in their about me section). If you’re in a bigger city, I know that the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God has locations all over (especially in some of the bigger cities) and has done a great job at helping people rediscover their faith.

Education

Both college and graduate school changed my perspective forever…especially graduate school. There’s nothing like realizing how little you actually know about the world around you as you read new thought-provoking theories and ideas written by the genius minds that came before us. Unfortunately, I know education isn’t cheap, but if you have any desire for a career change or want to figure out a different calling for your life, then maybe your education is worth the investment? If it is, then finding the right college and/or courses to invest in is essential. I know from my experience, by taking the courses in college that inspired I was able to find a job I was truly passionate about.

Art

One last area I’d like to discuss is art and creativity. In so many ways, allowing yourself to be creative allows you to release emotions, and/or look deeper within yourself, feelings and thoughts. Self-reflection is pivotal when trying to gain a new, more positive perspective on life because creativity it allows us to express yourself when words fail us; and, the best part about art and creativity is that it can be anything you want it to be. When I was younger I use to go to places like The 567 Center to learn about painting, writing, music, dance, and theater. I’m sure there are places similar near you, and who knows? By discovering your artistic side, you might end up learning more about yourself than you ever expected.

Deepening your faith, trying new things, going back to school – they’re all things that take time, commitment, and possibly money. Three of our most valuable resources. However, I just want to encourage you today to try…because without taking the chance to try new avenues of personal and spiritual growth, it will incredibly difficult to ever get out of the rut we find ourselves in.

I pray that you’ll take hold of whichever ideas speak to your heart the most and that you’ll at least try to make strides towards a new direction. Know that I’m praying for you today and always, friend.

Love in Christ,

Helen Elizabeth