Growing and Changing

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Adrift

Adrift

Member
#1
Apr 18, 2013
81
3
8
#1
I suppose that everyone grows and changes with time, perhaps some more in different ways than others. Thinking about this made me want to ask some questions.

In what ways have you changed the most over the years?
Do you feel that you have grown through it all?
Are you glad that you changed in the ways that you did? If not, what would you change right now if you could?

I know for myself, sometimes I don't even realize how much I have changed until I look back over my life, and sometimes I wonder how in the world I ended up where I got. :D It reminds me of this quote:


I look forward to reading everyone's replies. :)
 
BruceWayne

BruceWayne

Senior Member
#2
Aug 7, 2013
3,694
357
83
Gotham City
#2
Probably more confident, but also less trusting & less caring about what others think or do. It could be both beneficial and not. Like for example... I might used to trust someone until they gave me a reason not to, but now they have to earn my trust to begin with. That kind of thing. There are both good things and things you wish could be different that come with that.
 
Awakened

Awakened

Senior Member
#3
Dec 4, 2016
127
7
18
#3
I am a work in progress. ❤ I definitely have more patients and understanding. I am slower to anger and look for the positive in everything.
 
P

PinkDiamond

Guest
#4
#4
Over the years, I've become more positive and hopeful. I've learned to trust God with my future and to enjoy my present life. I used to be much more concerned about reaching goals or having things fall into place on my time table. Certain circumstances in my life haven't changed yet, but I'm far more content than I used to be. I realize I'm going to survive even if certain things don't happen:)
 
Adrift

Adrift

Member
#5
Apr 18, 2013
81
3
8
#5
BruceWayne said:
Probably more confident, but also less trusting & less caring about what others think or do. It could be both beneficial and not. Like for example... I might used to trust someone until they gave me a reason not to, but now they have to earn my trust to begin with. That kind of thing. There are both good things and things you wish could be different that come with that.
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I can relate to you a bit there. I suppose after a few unfortunate experiences with broken trust, you kind of have to be more careful. I was actually thinking about trust earlier today after talking with some online friends. I was thinking how sometimes trust can be such a painful thing (like Prov. 25:19), since you really do make yourself vulnerable to another person and they can inflict some painful wounds.

That child-like trust though can also be so sweet. The other day when I was out shopping two little boys came up and introduced themselves to me when I was looking through some books. It was so adorable and sweet how the one told me his name and his little brothers name! So I told them my name and that it was nice to meet them, then asked "do you also like to read books?" And their reactions were too cute. Then the one little boy held up his hand to show me how old he was, 5! :eek: I wish talking to people and making friends was that easy in every day life. haha :D

Awakened said:
I am a work in progress. ❤ I definitely have more patients and understanding. I am slower to anger and look for the positive in everything.
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That is wonderful! :)

PinkDiamond said:
Over the years, I've become more positive and hopeful. I've learned to trust God with my future and to enjoy my present life. I used to be much more concerned about reaching goals or having things fall into place on my time table. Certain circumstances in my life haven't changed yet, but I'm far more content than I used to be. I realize I'm going to survive even if certain things don't happen:)
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That's great!! :) Thank you for sharing! What you said really reminds me of the song "In His Time".
[video=youtube_share;Wo-rGzx2OZk]http://youtu.be/Wo-rGzx2OZk[/video]

Sometimes we really don't know where life will take us and no matter how well or how hard we try to reach goals, life has its way of seemingly foiling our plans, but waiting on God like that is the most beautiful thing, and truly makes "all things beautiful in His time!" :)
 
laura_charlotte

laura_charlotte

Senior Member
#6
Dec 16, 2012
1,483
114
63
#6
One way I've grown is that I'm always pushing for more out of life. I'm not interested in having a complacent attitude of 'I'm just waiting for the lord to take me'. I love to make the most of my time here on earth as much as possible. I've loved discovering different ways of giving back, big and small, ultimately doing God's will with my time. Just an appreciation and love for life that has only steadily grown over the years.
 
BruceWayne

BruceWayne

Senior Member
#7
Aug 7, 2013
3,694
357
83
Gotham City
#7
Adrift said:
That child-like trust though can also be so sweet. The other day when I was out shopping two little boys came up and introduced themselves to me when I was looking through some books. It was so adorable and sweet how the one told me his name and his little brothers name! So I told them my name and that it was nice to meet them, then asked "do you also like to read books?" And their reactions were too cute. Then the one little boy held up his hand to show me how old he was, 5! :eek: I wish talking to people and making friends was that easy in every day life. haha :D
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That's awesome! :) And yes.. if only it were always that easy lol
 
Oncefallen

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
#8
Jan 15, 2011
6,030
3,255
113
#8
Adrift said:
I wish talking to people and making friends was that easy in every day life. haha :D
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BruceWayne said:
That's awesome! :) And yes.. if only it were always that easy lol
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If you were to really think about it, it IS that easy. If it wasn't that easy kids wouldn't be able to do it. We, as adults, make it by far more complex than it has to be.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#9
Aug 13, 2014
24,896
8,156
113
#9
One thought about growing and changing: That is why you need to keep reading the Bible after you have read it through once. The Bible doesn't change, but you do. As you read it at different times of your life, you find different things you missed earlier because you weren't old enough to get it before. If you're 112 years old you still need to be reading that book again.
 
Lenardzw

Lenardzw

Senior Member
#10
Jul 31, 2015
425
22
18
#10
Over the years I've learnt more and more that God loves me in spite of me. After years of not always getting it right the first time (or the seventh time) I have become more sensitive to (and considerate of) the struggles other people have. What was once a mad gallop to a judgement, over the years slowed down to a canter and finally to a halt- well almost. I don't get angry as much as before, or rather, I manage it rather than have it manage me.

I have grown to love serving people, particularly in our local church and community. Time is precious. This didn't even cross my mind some 20 years ago. Today its pretty clear.
 
G00WZ

G00WZ

Senior Member
#11
May 16, 2014
1,313
447
83
37
#11
Lets see... I used to be focused on just money and being greedy... I used to think of nobody else but myself.. actually i took pride in knocking people down, while rising myself up.. I used to have one huge ego.
I am not the same person i used to be, and i am glad that through Christ i was able to change and mature
 
AbigailZeke

AbigailZeke

Beloved
#12
Mar 11, 2016
3,055
241
63
Singapore
abigail.pro
#12
One thing I see in my life now, where change is evident, is my relationship with my mother. All my life I've always had fights with her. I had this constant dreadful feeling whenever we talk. After waves of opportunities of change and growth, I haven't had a fight, or even a disagreement with her, and it's been more than a year since our last fight where she had to shed so many tears. Not only that, but I have started to understand her and I'm loving her more, and I'm receiving more love from her! (She might have loved me a lot before as well, but I just didn't see it).

Seeing this result in my life, I am confident that Jesus is at work within me. Only He could do something like this, give me a new heart of flesh.
 
T

travelingthrough

Guest
#13
#13
One of the biggest changes I have seen in my life over the last year is that I am more thankful than I used to be and a bit more patient. I did a thankfulness challenge and it really changed my perspective. I kept a log (until I hit a 1000) of all the things I had to be thankful for, it was rather amazing to see how God changed my perspective.
 
P

PinkDiamond

Guest
#14
#14
travelingthrough said:
One of the biggest changes I have seen in my life over the last year is that I am more thankful than I used to be and a bit more patient. I did a thankfulness challenge and it really changed my perspective. I kept a log (until I hit a 1000) of all the things I had to be thankful for, it was rather amazing to see how God changed my perspective.
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That sounds like a good exercise. It's amazing how easily our minds focus on the negatives in life. We tend to forget or take for granted all the blessings.
 
T

travelingthrough

Guest
#15
#15
PinkDiamond said:
That sounds like a good exercise. It's amazing how easily our minds focus on the negatives in life. We tend to forget or take for granted all the blessings.
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It really was and I would encourage anyone/everyone to give it a try.
 
Lenardzw

Lenardzw

Senior Member
#16
Jul 31, 2015
425
22
18
#16
AbigailZeke said:
One thing I see in my life now, where change is evident, is my relationship with my mother. All my life I've always had fights with her. I had this constant dreadful feeling whenever we talk. After waves of opportunities of change and growth, I haven't had a fight, or even a disagreement with her, and it's been more than a year since our last fight where she had to shed so many tears. Not only that, but I have started to understand her and I'm loving her more, and I'm receiving more love from her! (She might have loved me a lot before as well, but I just didn't see it).

Seeing this result in my life, I am confident that Jesus is at work within me. Only He could do something like this, give me a new heart of flesh.
Click to expand...
Wow Abi! This is awesome.
 
Tinkerbell725

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
#17
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#17
Growing in contentment. I don't have many wants anymore. As you grow old material possesions don't really matter much anymore. And if you are blessed with just enough you tend to search for other things that give meaning to life. Just living in the moment and trying my best not to live a mediocre life which happens when you get too contented and no longer wants to go out of the comfort zone. Trying to find that balance with God's guidance.
 
I

InHisHands

Guest
#18
#18
More thankful. More content. More peaceful. More real.

Thank you for this thread - great food for thought!
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#19
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#19
This is the day that the Lord has made..I will rejoice and be glad in it!!
My whole perspective and attitude changed. I was the most optimistic optimist ever or the right opposite.. I couldn't see both sides pf anything and by now im more of a realist. I dont explode as fast anymore as I used to.. I get along better with different types of people and dont judge by appearance or so anymore.. which was hard.
I started to love people the way they are, rather than wishing them perfect to the way they suit my mood.

Im not out of all yet that I want to get out but im on my way :)
I am glad God changed me. Life isnt a burden for me anymore and many fears are done with.
Now I can embrace and show my heart, which I couldnt before. God bless!
 
G

Galatea

Guest
#20
#20
I am learning to rely on God.
 
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