Coaches Corner: Life...is like Swiss Cheese

I am in a season of life where I frequently ask myself, “What are God’s plans and purpose for my life? I am reminded of the familiar verse…. “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I have even more questions when I think about and dissect this verse. I often wonder if I am correctly hearing God’s plans for my life.

Life… is like Swiss cheese, a metaphor that resembles the battles we often face. The holes are the struggles, challenges, and storms of life. Going through the holes instead of being stuck in the hole is how we become more resilient. The holes are there to build our character, mold us and shape us into the uniquely beautiful person we were created to be. The bigger the hole in the Swiss cheese, the sweeter, more delicious, and flavorsome. Our lives will never be perfect as we continue to fight battles, endure struggles, and even experience waves of rejection. But in the midst of all, there is a perfectly laid out life plan.

Growing up, I was that person that followed the crowd even though I didn’t necessarily agree with their thoughts, beliefs, or actions. Later in life, I realized that I was not being true to my authentic self, and it was robbing me of inner peace and joy. I have asked myself this simple question, “Are the people I’m following going where I want to go?”

I have worked in the same profession for over 40 years, but there is so much more that I want to learn and experience. Over the course of those years, I have learned many lessons…I believe those were the lessons I had to learn to move confidently into my future. It seems that I was in the purpose-planning stage for 40 years. I have new dreams, visions, and goals. Our attitude is the most significant gift we have been given, and we must strive to have an attitude of gratitude. To think is the highest function of any human being… to be impeccable with our thoughts and words. When we grow, we must build our foundation on truth and not sand, as with sand, you will sink. And the biggest lesson I have learned over the past several years… we become what we think about most of the time.

We go through life each day, and more often than not, we find ourselves in our comfort zone. We operate on auto-pilot and pull away from our reliance on God. We begin to rely on comfy things that keep us in our bubbles. The routines and habits that we have set up create a protective shield, or so we think. Honestly, is it protecting us or keeping us from experiencing God’s plan and purpose for our life?

Before 2020, I was in my little world and comfort zone. I was flying the same monthly schedule with many of the same people. The only thing that changed on my trips was my passengers. Over the past two years, I have slowly come out of my cocoon. It was a painful experience, and many of you may have or are still experiencing the struggle, pain, discomfort, and sadness the last couple of years have brought. But how you respond will determine your welfare and future. The season you are in is not to crush you or destroy you but to make you stronger…it is to give you hope and a future. Perhaps, it’s time to rebuild your foundation and resist the urge to shrink back into your comfort zone…you will not be the same as you step out of your comfort zone and into your purpose.

As Dean Briggs cleverly stated, “Do your work. Not just your work, do a little more, but that little is worth more than all the rest. And if you suffer, as you must, and if you doubt, as you must, do your work. Put your heart into it, and the sky will clear. Then, the supreme joy of life will be born out of your doubt and suffering.”

To connect with Ellie: FB @coachelliewest http://www.coachinghearttoheart.com