We are traveling this weekend, so I have a to-do list and a half today. Most of it involves laundry (and its evil twin- ironing). Bleeeah. When I have days like this, I react in one of two ways. I either lock-up, overwhelmed by all that ‘must’ be done and accomplish absolutely nothing. At the end of the day, I go to bed tired, but stressed and not sleep. OR I get to work, steadily and systematically. I may not finish everything, but I’ll get a healthy chunk of it done. Tonight I can go to bed tired but satisfied- and sleep.What makes the difference? Focusing on the results vs. focusing on the process. If I get too concerned on achieving, on meeting expectations, on what I have to show at the end of the day, I get strangled by the fear of failure. (That’s another issue. Maybe I’ll post on it in the future.) I become reactive. However, if I focus on the process, the steps I can take, then optimism takes over and I become proactive.

This translates into my relationship with God, too. If I get too wrapped up in the task at hand, and the expected results, I begin to rely on my own strength to bring it to pass. However, if I focus on following Christ, then all the pressure’s off me. He’s responsible for the path and the results. I just have to take the next step.

Even if that next step is the mountain of ironing.