“One of the attributes we have as Image Bearers is Intelligence… and we are designed for adaptation.”

As God’s Image Bearers, humans have been gifted with an incredible ability to think and problem-solve. Our intelligence is what gives us the capacity to adapt to whatever life throws our way. This significance of human intelligence has held since the beginning of time and is a trait that we will continue to rely on for generations to come. Intelligence sets us apart from other creatures, allowing us to be creative and develop new insights. This capacity has allowed us to build civilizations, explore our world, and create lasting relationships. Human intelligence truly is an incredible gift that has the potential to change the world for the better. We must remember this significance and use it wisely to make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

We all experience setbacks, but it’s important to remember that there is always something working for us. This doesn’t just apply to our own lives; it’s true for systems as well. No system runs perfectly all the time, but if we look carefully, we’ll find that there is always something that is still functioning properly despite the issues. Understanding this significance can help us move forward and adapt when necessary in order to make the most of what we have. Ultimately, no matter how challenging or difficult a situation might seem, there will be some element that remains functional and beneficial—that’s worth keeping in mind!

We have our own meaning and value for each experience. By doing this, we give significance to our lives by connecting memories and lessons learned with a sense of purpose. This helps us make sense of the world around us and gives us the motivation to keep going even in difficult circumstances. We can also choose to have a positive attitude when dealing with life’s challenges, allowing us to find growth even in hard times. Our experiences can form unique stories that remind us of how far we’ve come and where we want to go next. Living consciously is all about recognizing the importance of each moment and using it as an opportunity for growth. By creating our own meaning and value, we can empower ourselves to live meaningful lives.

Life can be overwhelming and our reactions to life’s events often dictate the way in which we experience them. Understanding that everything happens for a reason, and it just so happens to occur at exactly the right moment, gives us a sense of significance. It allows us to accept life’s curveballs with understanding, instead of resentment or regret. Rather than focusing on the difficulty of the situation, we can focus on how it’s pushing us to grow and develop as individuals. Not everything will be enjoyable or easy, but it’s important to remember that life is simpler when you choose to accept what comes your way. It might not always feel pleasant, but in the end, it makes things a lot easier if you make peace with it instead of fighting against it. Life isn’t so much about what happens to you – it’s more about how you decide to respond. So why not try to make the best out of any given situation? You don’t have to like it, but learning how to embrace life’s challenges may lead you down a more meaningful and rewarding path.

The significance of not spending too much energy on justifying what we want cannot be overstated. When we free ourselves from the tedious task of justifying our desires and needs, we can direct our energies toward creativity and innovation instead. This allows us to solve problems in innovative ways that wouldn’t have been possible if we had continued to spend our time justifying our wants. Ultimately, more creative solutions are better for everyone, as they provide new opportunities and increase efficiency in the long run.

So if you find yourself spending too much energy trying to justify something, stop and use that energy for something more productive – like creativity! You’ll be amazed at what you’re able to come up with. Not only is it an efficient use of your time, but it can also be incredibly rewarding! So don’t let justifying your wants take away from your potential for creativity and innovation. Put that energy towards something more fulfilling – you won’t regret it. It could even lead to more success in the long run! So think about this the next time you feel yourself spending too much energy justifying what you want. You might find that a better use of your time is to focus on creativity and innovation instead – who knows where it could lead?

There is a term called psychological flexibility – manage your emotions or they manage you.  It is an inverse relationship; low psychological flexibility is associated with:

• Higher anxiety
• More depression
• More pathology
• Poor work performance
• Inability to learn well
• Substance abuse
• Lower quality of life
• and many more “not so good things”

All this means you have lost ownership of your life.  When you identify and achieve your daily goals, it can bring a sense of significance to your life. You may feel more purposeful at the moment and become motivated to do even more with each success. As you measure progress over time, these wins will add up and have a lasting impact. Celebrating our accomplishments is part of the process, which helps us appreciate how far we’ve come in pursuit of our dreams. Your ownership over every area of your life grows with each step forward that you take. All the while, the power of your winning brain remains at work- helping you stay focused on achieving greatness!

When you identify and achieve your daily goals, it can bring a sense of significance to your life. You may feel more purposeful at the moment and become motivated to do even more with each success. As you measure progress over time, these wins will add up and have a lasting impact. Celebrating our accomplishments is part of the process, which helps us appreciate how far we’ve come in pursuit of our dreams. Your ownership over every area of your life grows with each step forward that you take. All the while, the power of your winning brain remains at work- helping you stay focused on achieving greatness!

Proactive gratitude is about making an effort to appreciate things in life that you may have previously taken for granted. It’s not just about saying thank you for the good stuff, but also taking a moment to recognize and respect all of the little things too – from a beautiful sunset to the birds singing outside your window. Practicing proactive gratitude can help us be more mindful of our surroundings, which can lead to increased feelings of joy, contentment and satisfaction with life. Furthermore, it helps us develop stronger relationships with those around us, as we encourage others to join in on our appreciation of the world. So why not start today by taking some time out of your day and consciously showing appreciation for at least one thing? You might be surprised how much it changes your outlook on life!

In Closing this series…

There is a formula for happiness and it is likely not what people think about.  Measuring backward means you measure progress based on where you were before…  This means there is historical precedence and true data comes from reliable and measurable data points right?

• Don’t compare yourself to others… remember they have their own issues.
• Appreciate where you are… you’ve never been here so it is new.
• Appreciate you progress… if you don’t appreciate it, who else will?
• All experiences are GAIN… find the nuggets.
• Be your own best friend!

Peace on your Days

Lance