Living Well

Living life with purpose is something I teach often in my work as a counselor and coach. Over the years, I’ve learned that depression pulls us into the past, while anxiety pushes us into the future. The healthiest way to navigate life’s challenges is to stay anchored in the present.

For me, that looks like cultivating intentionality and mindfulness. As I entered chapter 50 of my life, I felt called to practice what I teach. What better way to help others than to run the experiment on myself? I’ve discovered that I’m my own best “lab rat” when it comes to the work I do.

This past year has been full of both setbacks and successes. Chapter 49 ended with a surprise cliffhanger: a few days before my 49th birthday, I learned I was going to be a grandma. Deep down inside I was very excited but for someone who doesn’t love surprises—good or bad—I know I didn't express the excitement probably like I should have. Leaving my kids probably confused and thinking I was not happy for them. You would think at this age surprises wouldn't shake my sense of control but it did.

Pretty sure this was the set up - the one where God was going to impress dependent as Chapter 50's word of the year. I realized that living on autopilot would no longer work. God was inviting me to lean on Him completely—even when life didn’t feel like sunshine and roses (though I learned that sunshine and roses certainly help!).

Now, with 40 pages left in chapter 50, I’m taking time to reflect on the lessons God is writing into this season. It’s only day 5, but already (praise Jesus!) I’m learning so much about the woman He is shaping me to be.

Day 1: Accountability

James 1 reminds us that perseverance and endurance produce maturity. I’ll admit—perseverance is not my strongest quality. But God has blessed me with people who hold me accountable, encourage me, and love me no matter where I am in the process.

Day 2: Battle

The Tale of Two Wolves tells of a battle between Good and Evil, with the winner being the one you feed. Each day brings a battle, but Philippians 4 calls us to fix our thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. I feed the “Good” through prayer, gratitude, and surrender. And even in chaos, God’s peace—beyond understanding—guards my heart and mind.

Day 3: Confidence

When we walk in step with God, we can trust Him to part the seas before us. In Exodus 14, Moses told the fearful Israelites to stand firm and watch God’s deliverance. Sometimes all God asks is for us to stand still and move forward in faith. I remind myself often to live with “God-fidence”—that childlike confidence that He’s got me, no matter what.

Day 4: Remember My Why

Life doesn’t always feel like progress. Sometimes it’s one step forward, two steps back. Yet Romans 8 reminds me that God works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Long before I was born, God knew my story beginning to end. My job is to trust the why and keep walking through the hows.

Day 5: Rest

This world is not for the faint of heart. Alongside the good comes chaos and attack. But in Matthew 11, Jesus invites me to come to Him for rest. Elisabeth Elliot once said, “Rest is a weapon given to us by God; the enemy hates it because he wants you stressed and occupied.” When life feels overwhelming, I know it’s time for some divine therapy—just me, my Bible, my journal, and a box of tissues.

As I move forward in this chapter, I don’t pretend to have everything figured out. But I do know this: living well isn’t about control—it’s about dependence on God. And in that dependence, I’m finding freedom, peace, and purpose.