Know Your Triggers

Distractions. Most of us know when we are being distracted. When something is taking our attention away from some task we should be doing. But sometimes there are distractions that threaten to change the course of our lives and we can be completely unaware. Before long we look up and we have wasted days, months even years going down a road we should never have gone down. You ask yourself why did I spend so much energy on that? Why did I allow that to pull me so strongly? Look, we all have reasons why we do the things we do. But that doesn’t give us permission to get stuck there. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is to sit back and really analyze why we do what we do. Why do we react the way we react to those triggers which can turn into major distractions. Know your triggers and how they distract you. Even if we have experienced some type of trauma or abuse we have a choice in how we deal with it. That is why it is always good to examine ourselves. It is also good to have someone we trust that will speak compassionately but honestly about what they observe in us. Sometimes it is hard to get that combination. We will either find those that are more than willing to point out our every flaw or mistake with brutal honesty or those who are unwilling to tell us the truth for fear of hurting our feelings or damage to the relationship. This is where Jesus comes in. He is such a compassionate, loving guide. He will reveal our truth without judgement or condemnation. He will then guide us out of our mental mess.

As always it is a choice. You have to want to know your truth. What I have discovered is that we are all human. We make mistakes. We get distracted and we can lose perspective. Even now I can still lose precious time on something I was never meant to deal with. Only because something triggered a negative response in me that I chose not to control or that clouded my judgement for a period of time. It is only when I get quiet and allow God to speak to my heart that I gain my perspective back. The goal is to lessen the time of the distraction and not give in to it. Our journey is to realize we should go to God as soon as we recognize our trigger and allow Him to speak to give us insight into ourselves and any situation we may face. If we don’t learn our triggers we run the risk of allowing those distractions to sidetrack our entire lives. That would be a sad commentary to realize we squandered away our time, our opportunities, our relationships, our very purpose all because we failed or refused to identify and deal with our distractions.

The triggers that lead to our distractions are not the problem as much as our reaction to them. Even when we realize that we have gotten off track we can waste even more time in pride unwilling to admit it or feeling condemnation for allowing ourselves to “go there”.

Romans 8:1 NIV: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.

Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, allow Him to speak into your spirit and keep it moving.

Just know ahead of time that there are times and triggers that will require us to get quiet and hear from God. We should always be willing to examine ourselves but also realize that it is very dangerous and unwise for us to be our own counsel and to be left alone only with our own thoughts. Even our judicial system sees the need for, encourages and provides the right to counsel so that we have a choice of representation. We have an Advocate, A Mighty Counselor who sits at the right hand of God to intercede for us. He is waiting to counsel, represent and guide us.

2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Do you trust Jesus enough? Do you have faith that He knows your triggers and that He knows how to guide you before they become major distractions? Do you believe He sees you and your pain and can help you?

Our triggers are unique to us and our experiences. No one may understand why we do what we do but He does. Examine yourself, ask for His help and trust that He will do it. We are not required to be perfect just receptive.