We’ve probably all compared our lifestyle to others at some point in time. Perhaps it was with jealousy and wanting what they seemed to have. Or maybe it was with gratitude and thankfulness for what we have. But most days we likely take our lifestyle for granted, and there’s much value in taking the time to reconsider it again.
Of course, we’ve all had moments in which it’s very clear the life we live is different from the life of others we cross paths with.
And, naturally, during the first half of life, we tend to spend a lot of energy focused on building the life we want to live.
But somewhere along the way we start to live life on autopilot. And we might become trapped trying to maintain a lifestyle that no longer serves us well.
For instance, this can happen when we try to keep up with the Joneses financially – allowing ourselves to suffer under mounting debt just to maintain the appearance of our social status.
But it can also happen when we adopt a lifestyle of busyness. Here we gain status by always being on the go and spreading ourselves thin – despite this putting a strain on our relationships and causing us to die inside.
Similar to this is the lifestyle of service. While appearing good on the surface, like Martha, this can become a distraction from the more important connections needed in life.
Whatever it looks like, it’s helpful to regularly step back and consider the lifestyle we’re living.
All too often we bring more stress into our life than necessary as we try to meet the self-imposed demands of our life rather than considering how to create a lifestyle for us to truly thrive.
In the end, don’t let your unexamined lifestyle run you in the ground. Consider again the life you’re living and adjust accordingly to live in the fullness of grace and freedom that God has given you.
Photo by Gift Habeshawon Unsplash
