4 Things to Gift Yourself in September

Fewer things connect me to the promise of new beginnings like getting a good whiff of freshly sharpened pencils.

Ahh, the school supply aisle.  I don’t know what it is, but every time I walk past, that aisle at Target I feel compelled to buy a new lunch pail and convince myself I NEED a striped notebook. (Although this planner does already occupy my heart.)

I am well aware that I have been out of school for **cough cough** years, but still, September, in all its perfectly-blank-notebook-glory, will ALWAYS feel more like a new beginning to me than January.  Call it 15+ years of conditioning, (thanks education system) but Fall just seems like the ideal time to hit the “refresh” button.

 

September, along with its shifting temperatures and influx of all things pumpkin and plaid, brings with it a new rhythm.  So what do you say we forget the calendar and call September the new January? Is that a hashtag?  Let’s make that happen.

 

#SeptemberIsTheNewJanuary

 

 

What do you say we embark on that “refresh” journey today with 4 simple gifts to give ourselves this September; 4 things that will help us hit the refresh button both on our inside and our outside world. And the first one? Well, it sort of flies in the face of the whole #hustle-be better, stronger, faster thing being perpetrated all over the interwebs this time of year.

 

New Motivation:

The way we get to operate when we know the Lord is so upside down from the way the world tells us we need to be.  

The world will tell you that you must strive, work harder, be better, push further, do more and outperform everyone else in order to achieve anything of significance.  And that my friends, can make you feel small. But the awesome thing about coming to know Jesus is-

He’ll set you free from that.  

His love, His sacrifice, everything He did for you declares that you are already significant. And then whatever we do, can be a response from that place. (read more about your identity here)

We get to because He already did.

He is our victory, we can lock eyes with Him, knowing our identity is secure. In Him, we’re complete and can do whatever He’s called us to do, whether it seems impossible or not.

If the one who sees the end from the beginning has called you to it, He’ll see you through it.

He hasn’t called you to something that you will fail miserably at. Have fear and doubts about in your flesh? You bet your life.  But His plans for you are good and He offers you hope and a future.

So that thing He’s put in your heart? If you submit it to Him and work at it at His pace, as if you’re working directly for Him and not for man, well, He can’t wait to help you make it a reality. It won’t be easy, it won’t be seamless, but He’ll redeem your efforts and refine you along the way. Then eventually, even though it’s hard, you will love what you get to produce together and the version of yourself that pops out on the other side.

Let His Love be your motivation so your actions become an offering of response.

 

New Morning Routine:

Everyone’s morning routine is going to look different.  There are no Cookie Cutter people here, but everyone I know, NEEDS a morning routine. I’ve found it’s an absolute necessity, like breathing and liquid stevia.

My morning routine revolves around 3 things. It keeps me sane and makes me an all-around better human.  I try not to be too legalistic about it because life happens, but 99% of the time, these 3 things happen, regardless of when I have to set my alarm clock.

And my people prefer me to have my morning routine as well.

It makes me nicer and truly more flexible in the rest of the day. (I did an in-depth guest post about it over at ChrisCookis.com #backintheday if you’d like to read more.) The 3 things are:

 

 

Time with God:

I like to get up early. Like stupid early. But to me, it’s totally worth it. When it’s still dark and quiet and it’s just me, Jesus, and a cup of coffee, beautiful things happen. I can hear better. I can be still, I can allow His Word and worship and prayer to continually shape my heart. Some days it’s joy-filled and exhilarating, some days it’s tear-filled and really hard or contemplative. But it’s always honest and it’s always fueling for my soul and spirit. Want to know more about how to connect with God? Chris did a great post here. And
there’s more where that came from, so don’t miss it and SUBSCRIBE HERE

 

Exercise:

If you follow this blog, you know we’re advocates of exercise. Chris did an in-depth post on his routine here. I workout at home with these DVD’s, Youtube workouts, these apps, free weights, and occasionally, I paint my nails during a workout (you know you’re curious). Working out in the morning not only boosts your energy and clears your mind, but it also gets it DONE before the crazy kicks-in and gives you an excuse not to exercise. Need help sticking to an exercise routine? Click here.

 

 

Breakfast:

BUT… this deserves a point all its own don’t you think? SO, breakfast!

 

New Morning Meal:

Ah, the most important meal o’ the day. But I get it, mornings can be hectic. SO here are 2 sanity-saving breakfast tips.

 

1. prep your coffee pot the night before then all you have to do is hit a button. Yay. And if you have a fancy programmable-wake you up with the smell of coffee kind of pot, even better.

 

2. Try these 7 power breakfasts with Gluten-Free & Paleo options and BONUS: Many can be prepped if not totally made the night before.

 

New Music:

You KNEW i wasn’t going to tell you to hit the reset button without giving you some fun music to do so right?

 Here’s our latest workout playlist

and YES, you can use it for more than working out and YES…it’s on Spotify. You’re welcome.

 

I’d love to know how you’re hitting the “refresh” button this September?  Any new goals or new things you’re incorporating into your routine?  Just remember, whatever you’re adding to your life right now, do it with the right motivation-not for significance, but from a place of significance.

 

 

You’re going to rock this September

Until next time,

Meg

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