Thoughts on The Shift

If you walk into my bedroom, the first thing you will notice (besides the plethora of clothes dysfunctionally placed everywhere) is that my walls are filled with birthday cards, inspirational messages, and art.I turned 21 this past March, and my mother gifted me with 21 birthday cards, each inscribed with uplifting and encouraging messages that pierce my soul and filled my heart with so much love and joy.After all, there is nothing better than encouraging words from Mama.In one of the cards there is a message inscribed in her pretty handwriting and bears the scripture of Jeremiah 29:11."For God knows the plans he has for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (New International Version)At first, I thought this bible verse was a common go-to scripture that everyone around me said... Meaning that it wasn't one that I relied on.And then, my life started shifting again.EVERYTHING around me was changing, and the past couple of months have felt like I was on a very fast ride with no brakes. Besides my personal life, everyone around me was graduating, starting new careers, moving far away, and just overall separating themselves for elevation.My heart and mind couldn't take it. I am literally like a fish out of water when I am taken out of my comfort zone. While I can eventually adapt, you can bet any amount of money that I am going to complain about it first.I hope I'm not alone here, but have you ever felt like everyone and everything is propelling forward, and you're just stagnant?Have you ever felt like your life is in shambles when its too much change happening at once?Have you ever felt that you have to force yourself to stay positive (because that's what everyone expects you to do) when really you just want to wallow in your sorrows because you are legit tired and fed up?This entire summer I've felt this way, and it has NOT been easy to deal with.But last week I had to get real and ask myself WHY.Why am I so uncomfortable with change?The answer I came up with is that I am accustomed to doing things my way. If things are not following the plan I wrote for myself, I first allow myself to get angry then I get sad. Then I try to wallow in my sorrows, but the people around me love me too much to allow me to do that. Then I pull myself together and become upbeat and positive until something else in my life shifts again and I find myself going through the same old cycle. LOL.It's so comical hearing the plans we make for ourselves. We have step-by-step instructions and then God catches wind and purposefully throws us a curveball like "Nah bruh. This is MY show, buckle up for the ride"AND WHAT A RIDE WE GO ON, JESUS.So when this happens, we tend to panic because well, this wasn't apart of (Y)OUR plan.But that's the point... Jeremiah 29:11 says "For *I* know the plans I have for you, said the LORD."Once I realized that, I turned to my favorite scripture (Phillipians 4: 6-7) and remembered to worry about nothing and to pray about EVERYTHING.My shift isn't over, in fact it's constantly happening. But I will say that life isn't meant to be comfortable, it's meant to be lived and when living life, there will be uncomfortable moments.Uncomfortable moments can include being broke, homeless, unemployed, opportunities missed, WHATEVER.But they happen... and there is nothing much that you can do to prevent that.Just remember that you are where you are in life right now for a reason, and you should focus more on the lessons you need to learn during the shift than getting out of the shift.During this shift, it is important to remember that obstacles don't exist to stop you, instead they help you realize how struggle builds character.It is also important to remember to take time for yourself during the shift. I think self-care is very important, especially during uncomfortable periods in your life. Travel. Turn off your phone for a few days. Stay in bed and do absolutely nothing. Its all okay. I mean, you're already going through an uncomfortable period, why exasperate yourself even more by trying to figure out every plot and plan to get out of it?My shift isn't over.With life constantly changing it never will be, but I'm slowly but surely accepting that. Being able to finally understand Jeremiah 29:11, and relying on Philippians 4: 6-7, I realize I was cut out for this. The feelings of uncertainty will waste away, and I'll have new challenges to face.Only next time, I won't panic (as much) and I won't try to force the universe to align with my plan. I'll just buckle up for the ride and know that the best is yet to come.One day, I'll even be able to say that I embrace the shift.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Is your life shifting?What are some of your tips to get through the uncomfortable periods in your life?