I'm Doing My Best

If you've ever spent 10 minutes in conversation with me, you know that I'm a SUPER over-thinking, self-reflective, analytical yet super emotional kind of person. So, I love journaling. I recently got two new journals (because one clearly isn't enough) and I'm loving them. 

One is a super awesome fitness journal  that is helping me keep track of workouts, plus all the other things that go into being a healthy person...gratitude, inspiration, reflection...this journal has it all. 

The second one is a guided journal that caught my eye because this is the cover:

Each set of pages has a quote of some sort and then says "How I'm working on myself today"  and I write something each morning then check back in before bed to see how I did...did I end up working on myself today? Did I reach the goal I set out for myself in the morning? If not, why? How can I change that for tomorrow? If so, I need to recognize that and celebrate it!

Today's quote was from my dear friend F. Scott Fitzgerald:

In any case you mustn't

confuse a single failure 

with a final defeat.

The truth is, I feel defeated a lot. I strive for perfection and wind up disappointed in myself time and time again. In recent days I've decided to look at life as an adventure, and while it may not turn out like I want/expect, it is part of a bigger picture/plan. Viewing it this way instead of as a masterpiece I must not mess up will enable me to enjoy it (life and the adventure) rather than dread it. That's the hope anyway!

I also decided that I need to answer a few questions about myself...who am I? What do I stand for? What are my goals and what will it take for me to achieve them?

That's kind of a lot at once so I decided to tackle them one at a time...all organizations and companies have mission statements, I think I should too...this is what I've come up with so far:

I am a child of God. He created me out of love, to further His kingdom, extend His love to others, be His hands and feet on earth and to bring Him glory. 

Jesus is my Savior and redeemer of my soul. I look to Him, who has given me Life, as the only perfect example of love, grace, mercy, truth and hope.

I will seek out, and yield to, the Holy Spirit. Where I am led, I will willingly follow as I set myself aside to do the work of God which he determined before time began. 

So...that's a start. Do you have a personal mission statement? If so, I'd love to hear it!