Level Up!

Levels involve moving up from one place to the next. With each level you move, you go higher. For instance, elevators allow us to move up to different floors. Museums have many different levels and we can visit exhibits on all the levels as we choose. On games we play, there are different levels to complete. We have to pass one level to get to the next. Each level does get more challenging, but winning is possible! In order to go from one level to the next, there has to be effort on our part. When we get in an elevator and we want to go from the 1st floor to the 3rd floor, it's going to sit there until we push the button to go to the floor we want. At museums that have more than one level, we'll only be able to see what's on the first floor unless we physically walk up the stairs or take the elevator. If we just stay on the 1st floor, we'l miss out on what's on the other floors and there could be some really cool exhibits on those other floors! When we play games with levels, we as the players have to make an effort to pass each level we play. The control buttons are in our hands. We hold the video game controller or the phone. Our hands are using the keyboard if we're playing a game on the computer. These are some games that come to mind when I think of levels: Super Mario Kart, Sonic the Hedgehog, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Candy Crush. While we're playing a game, we're more than likely to focus on winning each level so we can get to the next level. We're not paying attention to distractions around us, but we're in the zone. What if we started leveling up in our own lives? What if we were that focused in our lives and were in the zone? Leveling up in our lives first begins with our mindset. We have to see ourselves doing better, wanting better, and having better. We have to check our thoughts constantly and think about what we are thinking about. We have to make the effort to pursue the goals and dreams we have. Yes, we may be where we are right now, but it doesn't where we always have to be. Appreciate and work hard where you are, but keep working and know there's more. God will give us the tools we need, but it's up to us to use them. In a game, the controller is not going to push buttons on its own. A person has to do it. We have to actively do our part to get to where we need to be. God will do His part- we have to make sure we do ours. We have to level up in our self-discipline. I know there are days we don't feel like doing anything towards our goals, but there's where self-discipline comes in. If we can do one task every day towards a goal, that's one step closer than we were before. That means we have to unplug from social media, put down the phone and not watch television from time to time. Imagine if we really blocked out all the distractions and really focused on what we needed to do. Wow! What a difference it would be! We also have to level up in how we treat ourselves and others. We have to be kind to ourselves, speak well over ourselves and do self-reflection daily. We have to be kind, loving and respectful to others even when they haven't treated us right. I know it's not always easy to be around people and face people when they haven't done you right, but it's possible. I'm a witness! God will help us level up and have joy in the midst of it all. Leveling up means showing up. Leveling up means being consistent. Time and time again. It means we show up to our jobs, schools, colleges, churches, community events, sports practice and events ready to give our best. When it gets hard and we feel like giving up, we still have to level up. If we find something is not working and we keep getting the same results, we need to try something different. Doing something different will lead to different results. Let's not miss out on anything that God has for us. Every day, let's have a new mindset, set a new goal or work towards a goal we already have and give our all every single time. Show up every single day in every way. Let's level up!