The Hallway of Transition

Are you thinking about where your life is heading towards? Do you give thought to the path you've chosen to take?

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception (Proverbs 14:8)

About 4 years and a half ago my life as I knew it came to a screeching halt. I experienced a major burnout that forced me to answer these two questions.

Sadly before the burnout, I had no clue where my life was heading, and I definitely did not give thought to the path I had chosen to take.

Instead of asking where is my life heading and confronting the reality of my life, I made excuses and justified the life I had designed. Even though I was a pastor, and seemed to have all the trappings of success I had abdicated the responsibility for my life and had allowed others to design my life.

When we don't give thought and consider where we want to end up in life we fall into deception. We create a life that is not congruent to our values and calling and we end up in a self-imposed prison, which is the worst kind of confinement.

When our lives are lived without direction then any other road will do, even if it's a lie.

If you are feeling lost and aimless my advice is to stop and consider the life you are leading. Ask yourself this question, does the path I'm on lead to the place I want to go? If it does great! You're on the right path and you may just need to change your attitude towards your calling, but if you answered no, then you need to reconsider the path you've chosen. This is not an easy task and demands considerable work.

Going from where you are to where you want to go requires a new mindset, and to acquire a new mindset requires you enter into a season of transition, or what the bible calls "wilderness".

Transition is a stage between separation from one state to another. it's a stage of letting go of the old reality, and identity. it's a place of transformation or maturity. it's a place of testing, contradictions, a place to discover, create, opportunity and danger. It's what comes between where we are and where we want to be... it's the neutral zone of life.

A place that is purposely designed to kill the old mindset. It's the season where you are tested and confronted with the lies, ultimately it's the place of promotion. All great leaders have gone through a season of transition before they were catapulted into their callings. Martin King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Theresa, King David, and of course Jesus all went through a season of isolation and character reformation.

Many leaders fail to embrace their call because they fail at this juncture. They allow the lies to take them out of the game. Some murmur and complain and live in a permanent state of transition. Instead of extracting life and purpose and launching out to the promised land, they languish in a perpetual state of transition, they may have some success, but in reality, they are lost and never fully realize their potential. They speak boldly of the promised land but year after year they keep going in circles.

And others don't want to wait and prematurely launch out and crash and burn. In the end, they both end up in the same place, nowhere.

This exactly what happened to the Israelites, they turned a 12 day trip from Egypt to the promised land into a 40-year journey. Sadly, only the children that were born in the wilderness ended up crossing into the promised land, the older generation that left Egypt all died in the wilderness. Why? because they could not let go of the mindset of Egypt. From my experience, this is the number one reason why so many leaders don't thrive. They still carry the old attitudes and behaviours of bondage. I was there, and it's not fun.

If you are to Thrive in your calling you must be willing to go through the hallway of transition and slay the lies that have been holding you hostage. As leaders, it takes great resolve and courage to reconsider our thoughts and attitudes and change direction.

It's only then you can live a life of purpose and meaning. The goal of Thrive "Live Your Calling" is simply that, to help you develop the new mindset and behaviours that are necessary to fully embrace your calling. Yes, we will focus on tactics, strategy, and skill but in the end, without shedding your old identity this new season will only prove to be another wasted season.

BTW, if you want to be part of the community of Thrive "Live Your Calling". The group is specifically designed for people who have a great cause, drive and passion but they are finding it increasingly difficult to have impact and freedom? You might be a pastor, lead an NGO, run a service-based business a social enterprise, though leader. It's for individuals wanting to leave a legacy of impact and are looking to leverage their influence and expertise into using online strategies. The goal of the group is to teach you the art of turning your expertise, knowledge or business into consulting, coaching, speaking or online business, provide support and a community of like-minded people who are ready to embrace their higher calling. Please let me know if you are interested and I'll put you on the waiting list.