Learning new behaviors takes time and during my divorce I could often be hard on myself when I would slip and fall back into my old ways.

I felt challenged in my behavior, as I struggled through such a trying time. I was not always able to carry out positive actions by taking the “Higher Road” which then left me feeling shame-based and disappointed in myself.

I wanted to be better.

I wanted to be “fixed.”

But correcting old behaviors is not something that can “magically” happen over night.

It takes time to perfect new positive habits.

I had to be kind to myself.

I had to accept that I would make mistakes.

I had to learn to not take my lack of progress so hard.

As long as I was on a spiritual path…

As long as I was progressing…

As long as I was putting forth all my effort into the footwork…

I was moving forward at the pace that God intended for me.

I needed to remind myself on a daily basis that I was doing the best I could with the resources I had and that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself.

I had to tell myself often “Easy Does It” while I learned a new way of life.

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“Dear God, help me to be kind to myself even when I feel I have missed the mark. Help me to see that I did the best I could while working towards your positive new path for me to follow.”