Fixer Upper

One of my favorite HGTV shows to watch is Fixer Upper. I love watching the process of the original house being gutted from the inside out and eventually being renovated into a beautiful, brand new home. It is a long and tiring process, but one that is so worth it in the end. 

Before: Getting Gutted

Last weekend, I was watching an unusual episode. Most times, the house the couple is renovating is already completely cleared out by whoever was living there before. However, this time, there were old things everywhere...clothes, furniture, cobwebs, etc. I felt like I could relate to that house...there are some OLD things in me that have to be gutted....there are some things in me that simply have to go...

My old ways of thinking about myself...

have to go.

My old ways of thinking about others...

have to go.

 My old ways of popping an attitude...

have to go.

 My old ways of talking...

have to go.

They all HAVE to go. 

They all have to go so that they can be replaced with something new. Right now, I am in the process of cleaning out my closet. I have clothes that I don't wear, simply taking up space, and I probably would not be able to fit anything new in there. We need to create space within ourselves to welcome change...to welcome new ways of thinking and new ways of living...whatever that may look like for you.

After: completely renovated

Please take some time to reflect on who you are as a person. No one is perfect, and we all have areas we could use some change in. What in your heart and mind needs to be gutted? What needs to go so something better can replace it?

For transparency sake, I am currently working on some old, bad habits that formed in my 8 year battle with an eating disorder. It's part of my story, part of my testimony and is still a test I'm working through. Although I have an overall healthy, balanced diet, there are some residual effects that have to be dealt with....one being obsessive body checking in the mirror because one of my fears is gaining weight.

Through this process of change, it's also so important to get friends in your corner who can encourage change. As I'm sitting here writing, I can remember one of my closest friends, Keri, telling me to stop looking in the mirror. One day at work she caught me in the bathroom looking in the mirror and said, "what are you doing?" She knows me. She knows my past and basically all of my business, and in this way has helped encourage change in my life. At that point, this was probably a year or so ago, I didn't see a need for change, but now I am in a place where I am actually seeking change and professional help. So go find yourself some good friends who can help you in your process! Others see things in us that we may not see in ourselves, both the good and the bad. Iron sharpens iron.

Celebrating Keri's 30th!

Cheers to renovation,

Beth