#LifeDetox: Creating a Life That Aligns with Who You Are

Hey there, Sis! It’s the last week of 2024! The New Year’s celebrations are on the way! As we conclude our #DetoxDecember journey, we’ve explored the power of detoxing our minds and emotions. Now, let's shift our focus to something equally transformative - Lifestyle Detox. I have personally witnessed the importance of aligning our daily lives with our true selves. This alignment must be with our deepest beliefs, values, and goals. It is not only beneficial but also essential for true transformation. 

Life be life’n. We all know this. It can seem like life is happening to us. We are being tossed and turned by forces that we cannot manage or control. But is this really God’s will for us? To be victims of life? Just typing this sounds wrong. Say it out loud, out your mouth, beyond your thoughts, and see how it sounds. It sounds cruel. And yet, many of us live this way. We are the sheer example of chaos. No intention of living. Tossed around like a shoe thumping in the dryer. Round and round. 

This is not God’s will for you, my sister. You are meant to live with dominion - authority - in life. You are meant to have a say. You are meant to manage effectively. You are meant to happen to life, not the other way around. When we feel that we don’t have any power, we tend to attempt what feels safe. Surface-level changes that we can manipulate with fair ease. Start a diet. Join a gym or church. Move to a new town. Start a different job. Get a divorce or break up.

For many years, I focused on transformation and reinvention from this perspective of “change.” What I finally learned was that I wasn’t truly transforming long-term because my “changes” were honestly creative ways of running from my truth. I needed to align these decisions with who God says I am and who I am within myself. Not who I’m trying to prove myself to be to others. 

I know that’s a little deep, but this is the last post for 2023. We need to keep it all the way real. I hope that on December 31, 2023, at 11:59 pm, you will have completed the self-reflection based on this series. This will help you align with the Lord and your true self. This alignment will prepare you for 2024. You will show up as a new wineskin ready for new blessings. The Groundhog Day cycle of reliving your past will cease to exist in 2024. A new beginning. Let’s get back to detoxing!

Lifestyle detox goes beyond the temporary. It's about making changes that last, changes that resonate with our innermost selves and God’s plan for us. It’s not just about what we eat or how often we exercise; it’s about creating a life that feels right, that brings us joy, balance, and peace. We're discussing making uncomfortable choices. These choices will bring real returns on investment. They will empower us to be our dream selves. It’s about the mindset beyond this process, as well as, the actions of initiating actions to align with that mindset. 

Here are some potential areas of lifestyle detox:

1. Diet and Physical Health: It's not just about losing weight; it's about nourishing your body, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We’re talking about optimizing the creation that is you. Believe it or not, this also will enhance your mental and emotional being as well. We’re not just changing our eating habits, we are healing our inner woman who hates our bodies and struggles with the dance of societal expectations.

2. Physical Activity: Exercise is not just for physical fitness; it's a way to honor God by taking care of the body He has given us. Moving our bodies provides stress management. It allows self-reflection, discipline-building, and unleashes creativity.

3. Social Circles: Surround yourself with people who uplift you, share your values, and bring positivity into your life. It’s time to reevaluate your inner circle. Who needs to stay in the outer perimeters and who gains access to intimacy? This decision should be based on your own beliefs, values, and commitments. No one else's. 

4. Moderation & Management: I hate the term “work/life balance.” I like to encourage women to create a life vision based on what truly matters to them. Balance may never come because perfection is a fleeting effort. Implement a schedule and a routine that pushes forward your priorities and goals that align with your current season. Finding harmony between your professional ambitions and your personal life will keep what’s important, important. Remember, "For what does it profit a woman to gain the whole world and forfeit her soul?" (Mark 8:36).

Here are some steps to guide you in this detox process:

1. Put Your Core Values & Beliefs at the Front: Who are you at your very core of being? Do you live a life that aligns with that being? It is well worth the time and effort to be in tune with who you are so you can align your life accordingly.

2. Set Clear Goals: What do you want your life to look like? Write these goals down and pray over them. Make sure your desired transformation drives these goals based on your core beliefs and values. Dream big, sis. But also, be realistic about the steps to get you there.

2. Make Small, Sustainable Changes: Start with manageable changes. Maybe it's choosing healthier food options or setting boundaries at work. You don’t have to cut people out of your life like a butcher with a cleaver. You can set boundaries for yourself in specific environments and with specific people. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Patience for the long game. 

3. Track Your Progress: Keep a journal of your lifestyle changes. Celebrate your victories with like-minded individuals, no matter how small. If you don’t pay attention to what’s happening, then you won’t be in tune with what is transforming! 

Lifestyle detox is a journey of aligning your daily life with your true self, purpose, and God's plan for you. It's about making choices that bring you closer to who you were created to be. It’s along this journey that inner peace becomes a close friend. As busy women, we owe it to the Lord, ourselves, and the world to live our lives to the fullest, in a way that honors Him and our well-being.

I hope this series has been a blessing to you as you do the inner work to prepare for the new year. This year on the horizon feels different to me. I sense an urgency in our preparation. Join me in aligning our lives, thoughts, faith, and emotions to work for our good. Connect with me and share with others how to connect. We can encourage and empower each other.

Happy New Year! Cheers to 2024! Great is God's faithfulness to allow us to see another year.

FORWARD ONLY!