Feb 27, 2019
Welcome with me today Valerie Burton on this week's episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!
Valerie is a wife, mother, and writer. She became a writer out of a prayer for true purpose. Her mission is inspiring women through writing and speaking and now being a life coach.
We get to discuss Valerie's new book "It's About Time", which is coming out April 30th. Her book encompasses subjects such as not wearing "busy" as a badge of honor on our lives but taking time to say no, and to only do the imperative. Valerie gives her testimony and how she has learned so much about the Lord through time. She speaks on how time issues were at the core of hardships in her life. Even now, we talk about creating margin and leaving space between obligations.
"God created us to be here for a purpose." We are given unique, divine assignments based on the purpose He has given us individually. We can't hear what that purpose is and implement it well if we are filling every minute of our time with noise. We speak on the fact that being present takes more effort, but it is far more fulfilling. We feel more relaxed and filled up, and that is where we will be able to meet God.
Some factors that have really ramped up in our culture today are pace, competition, and comparison. Instead of wanting to keep up with the other moms or coworkers, we need to ask ourselves what would be the more meaningful choice. Would you want to look back on time with your children and see yourself always on your phone? Or would you want to fill your time with things that aren't directed towards the purpose God has placed on your life? We need to learn to let time go slowly sometimes. We need to get in a place where we are "okay with being a little bored".
Valerie lays out some core vulnerabilities that keep us from making the wise decision in the heat of the moment. She speaks on approval addiction, perfectionism, and unrealistic optimism. But she also talks about grace for yourself and your loved ones. She gives personal testament about making peace with lost time. It begins with forgiveness and acceptance, which leads to gratitude towards future time. We may have not taken full advantage of today, but that doesn't mean we can't tomorrow.
This is such a timely episode and I hope you enjoy!