Level Up

A few days after I began praying the “Show Up” prayer, another prayer started to weigh heavy on my heart.

Level Up.

When attempting any goal, almost everyone hits a plateau phase.

Staying true to my multi-tasking self, I am working on a ton of different projects and goals currently including:

Continuing Autoimmune Protocol
Developing an exercise routine, to supplement my clean eating, to reach my weight loss goals
Finishing any additional work related to the end of the school year
Finishing any additional work necessary to obtain my professional teaching license including iTeach, Praxis testing, and PD hours
Cleaning, purging, organizing, and simplifying my house and mind
Starting Spike’s leash and obedience training
Preparing for my gigantic summer road trip
Learning Spanish
And honestly the list could go on

I’ve never been the type to tackle one thing at a time. Time is precious and if I wait to finish one thing before working on another it seems like nothing will ever get done, so instead I do tiny bites of many things, most days of the week.

In all truthfulness, staying busy is somewhat of a deflection from some big things on my mind, but I also just have so many interests and (current) responsibilities that it is just inevitable.

Anyways, leveling up.

I’m not a big gamer, but I feel like leveling up is the best way to describe what needs to happen next. In coaching and therapy, I was often asked, “What is your next, first step?” I never knew where to start or what to say. With so much on my plate, how do I choose?

So, I started praying to God that he would help me level up, in whatever way is necessary for each of these goals.

Making sure to get all those fruits and veggies in to hit 9 cups
Adding regular hiking back into my weekly routine
Putting grades in
Doing one module of iTeach
Cleaning one surface, in one room, each day
Working with Spike in every interaction I have with him
Making lists of what needs to be done before the trip
Completing at least one Duolingo lesson per day

Some of these things are small. And on the daily, they almost feel like I’m doing nothing at all. But each and every one of these things will add up to that “leveling up” I’m after.

I’ve hit a plateau with weight loss, but I haven’t even started exercising yet. I’m not eating enough protein yet. There is so much more that I can do to take this to the next level, so I know there is no reason to worry.

Most importantly though, I’ve leveled up my prayer life and that has given me the most peace about all these massive goals and lists. Prayer is what I go to first, and when I do that, all the other things fall in line. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for God, so I have to level up that relationship consistently and FIRST.

It seems like we are all in a season of waiting. Wandering on a seemingly endless plateau. But the truth is, we often keep ourselves there. We’re scared to find the next level and actually climb to it. Sometimes, the next level is painful or hard. Perhaps, it involves big decisions and big changes. Getting stuck on the plateau is far worse though. That’s where complacency lives. That’s where doubt starts to take roots. It’s where we get comfortable in its false sense of safety.

I don’t know what plateau you are currently on or what your next, first step is, but it’s time to take it.

Not next week.

Not when summer starts.

Not when you feel ready.

The time to level up is now.

Lord, you have a big purpose for my life and I know all these goals are in service of fulfilling that purpose. Please help me to take the right, next steps so that I can level up and continue becoming. Thank you for this beautiful Easter Sunday and for always reminding me that there is hope. We got this. Amen.

❤