10 Rules I Live By for a Full Life

Rules. Obedience. Faith. 

All words that if you’re a Christian or a follower of Jesus you’ve probably heard one time or another. I’ve been in this season of deepening my faith, hearing God’s voice more and more and trusting in God’s perfect plan for my life on this side of heaven. 

Let’s be honest, we’re scared. We don’t know when COVID will end, we don’t know what the future holds but we do know one thing. God is the same  yesterday, today, tomorrow and He is good. I cling to that every single day to help me live boldly for Christ, love my neighbor and work towards the goals God has for me.

The word rules can be jarring and cause legalism in my faith.I don’t know where I heard this but someone changed the word rules to guard rails and I love that so much. So, when I say rules I really consider them guard rails. Here are my top 10. 

1. Its okay to say no
   • Y’all ready for some full transparency. I used pride myself on burnout. In high school, college and even recently  my worth was tied to what I got done, how much I’d sacrifice for others and how empty I’d leave my cup. Recently I’ve realized that being a follower of Jesus doesn’t require me to push myself to the point of mental exhaustion, it means seeing life differently and remembering that everyone is made in the image of our Heavenly Father. Burnout is not a badge of honor. Saying no doesn’t make you any less committed to your faith, in fact, I think it makes room for what God is calling you to.  
2. Love hard, even when you won’t get anything out of it (even a thank you or acknowledgment)
   • I love a good pat on the back, shoutout or acknowledgment for the love I give to those around me. Its nice when a good girlfriend of mine tells me how much love I give to them and how it makes them feel. But sometimes, I dish out my love and nothing floats back my way. It’d be dishonest to tell you that it bums me out to not receive it. Sometimes it stopped me from filling a need or sending an encouraging word, and sometimes it still does. A good reminder for me is Matthew 6:3 “But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” In other words, not everything you do needs to be acknowledged or praised and that’s okay. God saw it, and He’s pleased that you chose to spread love. 
3. Remember the work you do is for God’s glory, not man. 
   • We all want to be a success story. We all want to make an impact. But sometimes I have to remind myself that God gave me the vision, so whatever steps I take need to be for His glory. It’s a good heart check to keep in line whose approval you’re seeking. If you’re alright with just God’s approval then you’re on the right track. 
4. Protect your peace 
   • This is one that I’ve been leaning into during this tough season our country is in. I have to remind myself that conflict and division (though heartbreaking) is nothing new. There’s always been political, racial, economic and religious divides and its the imperfections of life that we’re going to have to work through every single day until the end of our lives. Protecting your peace doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to the struggles of the world or ignoring pressing problems, it means don’t seek conflict, limit the negative voices in your head and cut out the people pleasing in your life. Some steps I’ve taken to protect my peace recently are cutting down on all the social media outlets I’m on, unfollowing negative accounts on Instagram and reminding myself that real life happens in real time, with real people and its so much more beautiful to watch life happen with your own two eyes. 
5. Say what you mean and mean what you say
   • Think about a person you trust. Think about the kinds of words they say, how uplifting, honest and careful they are when they speak to you. The person I think of is my grandmother because she’s a woman of her word. I know that whatever she says she’s going to do, she will do. I want to be like that as I grow older, to be dependable not just in my actions but with what I say to those around me. 
6. Pray often
   • Prayer works. Prayer is one of the ways we get the opportunity to connect to the Father through the Son. Pray when you’re happy and when you’re sad. Pray when you really want something and when you’re thankful. It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out sonnet (it can be if that’s your style), it can be acknowledging God when you wake up in the morning, it can be while you sing a worship song or when you’re writing in your journal. There have been times when I’ve prayed in the car and in the middle of situations and God has always come through for me. I know He will for you. If you need a reminder, checkout Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
7. Surround yourself with balanced people 
   • Noticed I said balanced, not perfect. No one is perfect, and those that pretend to be are exhausting. What I mean by balanced is level headed, honest and striving to be their best everyday. Spoiler alert– it may not look like what your balance is, but that’s the beauty of it. We all have an inner equilibrium, something that keeps us steady. As I live through my 20’s, I’ve noticed that all of my close friends have that in common– they’re balanced. Not perfect. Not overly ambitious. Balanced. 
8. Get excited about life + living it fully
   • If I’m ever in an emotional rut, stressed out  or anxious, I do two things. First I pray, then I count my blessings. Then I realize that God isn’t done with me yet or my future marriage or my future family and I get excited about it! There’s visions He’s given you, goals you’re working on and experiences you’ve lived through that have made you a stronger person! Get excited about the fact that there’s more life to be lived today and everyday. 
9. Find joy in the little things
   • The little things  mean something different to everyone, but, add up all the little things and you’ve got one one big life. Smiling at a stranger (or flexing your cheekbones through your mask), sending a thoughtful gift or message, cuddling with a puppy. All of these seemingly small things can change our moods in an instant. Lean into them more. 
10. Laugh always + as much as you can 
    • My boyfriend and I have come to the conclusion that I’m pretty witty. I’ve always got a one-liner ready, a quick comeback or a little joke that sometimes turns into belly-aching laughter and “remember when you said” stories. He’s pretty funny too and so are my family and friends. We like to laugh together and we laugh together often. There’s a beautiful sound that comes from a group of people chuckling, giggling and cackling together whether in person or in a group chat. I don’t know about y’all, but I want to feel that more often. 

I hope these guardrails for living a full life are helpful and inspire you to develop your own. I know as I grow older some of these will be more prominent, some of them may change and some may stay the same. I’m always praying for you and I’m so glad you spent some time with me.