Not Such a Good Idea
It’s that time of year when we’re each trying to get things right. Forget the New Year’s resolutions, though; it’s often the first time some of us have stopped long enough to catch our breath so we could even think about doing something different.Sometimes we make purposeful decisions to change so we can grow in a particular area of our life. We want to save money this year… or lose weight… or be a better parent... or just get our nasty linen closets organized, for crying out loud! The list goes on and on. Other times, we’re changing out of necessity. If we keep doing the same thing much longer, it could produce some not-so-desired results.In our culture, there’s no shortage of ideas when it comes to areas in which to improve and ways in which to do it. (Just look at my last post… ha!) Almost every blog, tweet and post can give us an idea of how someone is making their life better. If I think of my own list of areas to improve in, I need to become a better cook, a better decorator, and I need to be more intentional about having fun... just to scratch the surface. I could learn so much from people who are more talented in these areas.[bctt tweet="Somewhere in our desire to improve, I think we need a voice of caution."]Somewhere in our desire to improve, however, I think we need a voice of caution. Whether it’s in time management, the latest exercise approach, or even our parenting, we must realize that rarely does one size fit all. I recently sat down with a wonderful woman who’d heard me reference an idea that Chris and I had for one of our children. She liked the idea so much, she decided to attempt the same thing. With the best intentions, she began the endeavor. Although it was working great for us Conlees, she wasn’t having the same experience. As she and I discussed the dynamics, it became very clear to me that many of us, myself included, can think every good idea is a good idea for our specific situation.When you hear a mom talk about some great parenting approach, absolutely take note. When someone who’s gifted in an area you struggle in, be all ears. BUT… never lose sight that not every good idea out there is good for you. Even beyond that, that good idea may be a good idea for you, but not right now. As you navigate the beginning of a new year, and in the months to come, I encourage you to always ask a few questions before jumping on the latest good idea…
- What context in my life do I need to take into consideration to determine if this is a good idea for me?
- A woman having success with a new parenting approach may have children of very different ages or temperaments.
- Your work environment and boss’s personality may be quite different from someone else’s.
- Does moving forward with this idea jeopardize other healthy patterns that already exist in my life?
- It’s great to start exercising, but not at the cost of abandoning your established discipline of spending time with the Lord.
- Is the timing right?
- Is this the right season for this change?
[bctt tweet="Not every good idea out there is good for you."]To be honest, I know I have areas I need to work on. Somewhere along the way, however, I have to choose my weaknesses. I’ll never be good at everything. If becoming a great cook right now means I get stressed out trying elaborate recipes or overspending our budget, or I’m consumed in the kitchen instead of having meaningful conversations with my teenagers, then I’ll choose to be an average provider of meals. There’ll be another season of life when I can improve my culinary skills.Before trying to improve at everything, I encourage you to ask a few questions. It may be a good idea for someone, but make sure it’s also a good idea for you.