When you align your life, it means you are living according to your values, beliefs, goals and purpose. Your actions are an echo of your values, beliefs, goals and purpose. People know who you are by what you say and what you do. You are authentically you. When you are living in this alignment, you are creating clarity as to who you are and your strengths for both you and others. Living in alignment brings you peace because you are not in conflict internally.
I utilize the hashtag #AlignYourLife in most of my social media posts across several platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and others. Not only is it relevant to my life journey, but its purpose is to help people who are searching to find their authentic selves, who God created them to be. I want to constantly and consistently remind myself and others to align your life. My prayer is that this column will help you understand and pursue alignment.
Why Alignment Matters
Let’s start with Proverbs 4:26, “Survey the path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.” (usccb.org) This will help provide consistency in faith, purpose, and actions. This alignment strengthens personal integrity and relationships. When you are intentionally headed in a specific direction, your decisions are based on that intentionality. It becomes more clear to you and others what you stand for, what your purpose is and how you will achieve your goals as well as the outcomes you desire.
When you are misaligned, you will often face undue stress, confusion, and lack of fulfillment. You will feel lost, like life does not offer much to you. Know that you have the power to change that! It has to begin in and with you! Knowing yourself and knowing who God created you to be is the beginning to the path of alignment.
Elements of Alignment
What are the elements of alignment? They are values and morals, God-given talents and purpose, ministry and work, plus family and relationships. Let’s take a look at each of these.
Values and Morals
Your values and morals truly define your character. Are you clear on what they are? If you are not sure, start with the Holy Spirit. Are you living by the fruits of the Spirit ? Galatians 5:22-23) provides a starting place to reflect, “In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (usccb.org) Aligning your daily choices with Biblical principles will assist you in aligning your values and morals with your actions and words..
God-Given Talents and Purpose
1 Peter 4:10 reads, “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (usccb.org) We are each given unique talents to support our unique purpose (Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.” (usccb.org)) The world needs the you that God created you to be! We are often guided, directed or told who we are and who we will become.
It is never too late in life for self-discovery. There are many ways to do this. You can reflect on your own or with the help of a coach, to discover where your talents lie. You can also use assessments (there are many out there) to help you gain a quicker understanding of your foundation. Once you have an understanding of your talents and purpose, you can aim them for God’s glory.
Ministry and Work
Many times, we are working in areas that do not utilize our god-given talents or purpose, but as Colossians 3:23 states, “Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others,” (usccb.org) If you are not yet living your purpose, you can still integrate faith into your professional life by being a laborer for Christ. Let people see Christ in you in everything you do! This brings to mind a song by Jeremy Camp called “Christ in Me.”
Family and Relationships
The role of family is a cornerstone in alignment of all things. From birth, our family (this may look different for each of us) plays a significant role on how we determine what and who is a priority in life. Sometimes our family dictates our priorities even well into adulthood. As we become our own person, we can alter our priorities as we see fit. Sometimes our choices are good and sometimes they aren’t. We may want to prioritize God and family, but are pressured to provide a good life for our family which usually requires money. We may even chase after fame and accolades at the cost of God and our family. We can choose God and family first. It most likely will include sacrifice. Follow Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Steps to Align Your Life
It is time to divulge what steps you can take to align your life. Remember that everything is a choice and it may involve sacrifice.
- Self-Reflection– journaling, prayer, and seeking feedback are great ways to self-reflect. During this time, watch for patterns on how money is spent, how your time is spent, how you treat people and what you present yourself on social media. These will provide clues as to where you need to work on alignment. Pray Psalm 139:23-24, “Probe me, God, know my heart; try me, know my thoughts. See if there is a wicked path in me; lead me along an ancient path.” (usccb.org) Listen for God’s response.
- Defining Core Values and Priorities– Create a values statement grounded in scripture. Read more here on how to do it.
- Practical Applications-Time management and setting goals are a great way to reflect your alignment. Choose activities that align with your values and beliefs. Set goals to help you live your purpose, to be the person God created you to be!
Profound Quotes for Inspiration
Here are some quotes to help inspire you:
- “When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.” – Roy E. Disney
- “You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically—to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.” – Stephen Covey
- “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion – it is a daily process whereby you grow to become more like Christ.” – Billy Graham
Living in Alignment: The Rewards
The rewards of living in alignment are many. You will find inner peace and stronger faith, more impactful relationships and ministries as well as a clear sense of identity and purpose in Christ. Your life will have meaning and just sharing who you innately are with your God-given talents will create a joy within you that no one can take from you!
I invite you to reflect and take the first step toward alignment. Share your alignment journey using #AlignYourLife. I would also love to read about it in the comments or you can reach out to me to share it privately.
May God bless you abundantly as you #alignyourlife !!
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