Complacency

As the new year rolls into “full steam ahead”, I have tried to take time each day to be grateful for all of my blessings and focus on having my “walk” match my “talk”. I want to be a person who at the end of the day, lives out the things that I believe in my words and actions and behavior. I really want to be a genuine person, vulnerable and open to growth, correction and change. I strive to have my attitudes and motives support a life of authenticity and service. I am hoping to be an example for my daughters to follow. I believe that each one of us has a circle of influence. Those people who we interact with on a regular basis or people that we see once in a while but when we are together we have an instant deep connection with them. I am not a person who likes to be in a clique and I love interacting with people from all walks of life. But that does not mean I am not regularly tempted to get caught in the lie that tells me my significance is determined by who likes me, who emails me, who stops by…….I think we all get caught in this insecurity cycle. I want to be free to live and love and learn. I want to be ready for whatever circumstances come my way. I want to stand with conviction and face the challenges in my life with confidence and willingness to trust God in every situation.

COMPLACENCY is a word that keeps coming up for me as I have been preparing to teach a lesson at our women’s bible study. Complacency is a feeling of security, a sense of quiet pleasure often while unaware of the potential danger or defect lurking. It is a sense of self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with the existing situation. I wonder if I sometimes get to a point in my life that is too comfortable where I am cruising along thinking that all is well. Complacency can take the form of an attitude that you have “arrived”, you have everything you need, you are where you want to be in life and you are content. Another way complacency creeps into our lives is when we think we “have it all”-this is smug satisfaction. This can occur when someone has achieved their goals for prestige, success in business, and reputation. The problem arises when this attitude in life gives you a false sense of security. Complacency can cause an attitude of superiority which can become pride.

As I learn and grow in all areas of my life, I want to be open to new things. I want to be ready to face whatever life brings. Complacency comes for me when I forget to live like I believe, when I willingly compromise my standards. Do I act like I have my life all together and that I do not need others to help me along the way? Do I give a false impression that I have arrived? I want to live on the edge, ready for anything! I want others to know how much their friendship means to me. I want to be teachable and able to take constructive criticism and be open to changing and growing. If I am to leave a legacy of love and be a person I want others to imitate, I must beware of how easily I can slip into complacency.

What areas of your life do you see yourself struggling with complacency?