Thriving in Your Thirties

Today is my birthday!! I thank God that He’s kept me all of these years because without Him, I’m not sure where I’d be. Since entering into my 30's it feels like I’ve really grasped the idea of what it truly feels like to adult. 

The scripture, Romans 12:2 is my FAVORITE scripture and it’s been the most foundational scripture on my journey with Christ because it quite literally changed my life. Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t be conformed by the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Once I truly understood what that scripture meant I started to embody it. Every day I make the conscious decision to not be of this world, and when I tell y’all…it’s hard! We must die to ourselves and allow Christ to reside in us, and that’s easier said than done because there’s always something that’ll remind us of our old ways. That’s why each day I walk with my mind set on Christ. 

I want to share a few things I’ve learned during my walk with Christ, and I hope you are encouraged and continue to allow God to work in your life! Let's not only survive, but thrive!

Transformed

I am not the same, and that’s okay. I honestly underwent an internal, spiritual, and mental transformation and it changed my life forever. I could no longer partake in my old ways and old thought patterns because I desired to be who God created me to be and that required me to surrender my old self. This version of who I am today has much work to do, but I am proud of the woman I am becoming. No matter how many times the world tries to remind us of who we once were, we must remain strong in our faith and not be discouraged. We are transformed in Christ which means WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD. Every day is a battle in our flesh because we’re human, but our God is stronger and He will not let us fail. 

Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries helps to create a positive relationship with yourself and others. I have learned that in order for me to stay mentally sane I have to be open and honest about my boundaries. We as women take on so much, unintentionally. We are the caretakers and everyone comes to us looking for a safe place to vent, which means we need to have our cups full so that we don’t continuously give until we have nothing left. What boundary setting looks like for me is saying no to things I know I can’t partake in, whether it be due to my morals or I don’t have enough time on my schedule without stretching myself too thin. I’ve learned that I must make time for myself first because I have to keep the temple that God gave me in great condition! I only get one body so I must treat it with care. 

Privacy is Golden

I learned early on that not everyone should have access to all of your business. Not everyone has good intentions and they might run and tell your business. But I do believe that there should be a healthy balance of sharing but not oversharing. In the past I’ve definitely overshared and it’s left me feeling a little embarrassed, but I’ve left that behind and only those who have a need to know will know, and that’s okay! Being private does not mean you are keeping things a secret, but it’s more so you are protecting your peace. This has been such a game changer!

Health is Wealth

Staying on top of my health has been my number one priority! Like I mentioned, I only have one body and I want to treat the temple God gave me with care. What does that look like? It looks like staying on top of my doctors appointments, eating clean foods (cooking at home), doing some type of exercise, and communicating! Growing up I was awful at communicating, my thoughts, my feelings, you name it! Now, if there’s an issue or if I feel “some type of way” then I immediately let it be known. Or if I need time to process what I’m feeling then I take some time to figure it out and I’ll speak on it when I’m in a better headspace. 

Build Relationships

Building relationships with others and maintaining them is such a hard thing to do as an adult, BUT it can be done! My close friends and I have known each other for 10 plus years and even though our methods in which we communicate have evolved we’ve built such a firm foundation from the beginning that the relationship still holds weight and we are still good friends. It’s important to find a community of individuals who are understanding of your growth and development because as we get older it happens naturally. We weren’t meant to remain the same, we grow up and we figure out what we like and what we don’t like and those people who are in your corner shouldn’t feel threatened or intimidated by that. If anything, they should be on their own growth journey and encourage you to be the best version of yourself. Those friendships withstand the test of time, and are precious. 

I am loving my thirties and I can’t wait to see what else the Lord has in store for me! I encourage you live everyday to fullest and to cherish each day the Lord provides, make each day count.