Comfort Zones

Great accomplishments and achievements do not come by chance. You must work hard, you must work smart… but whatever the task at hand may be… whether it’s an individual assignment / project, a course, or an entire degree… to achieve great results you must focus, you must commit, and you must ultimately get out of your comfort zone.

Staying the course and staying on track can be difficult with all of life’s distractions, specifically for adult learners. Finding your “why” and remembering your “why”… can help you stay focused on completing your next task, and ultimately getting to the finish line- graduation! Often times, when students become distracted their focus is distorted and they forget their “why” or motivation for earning their degree in the first place.  It is when they refocus and revert back to the compelling reason that brought them on this journey, to the point of thinking about how their lives will not change if they do not finish their degree…that they will re-commit and consider doing things differently to achieve their desired results.

Comfort Zones are just that, comfortable. It has been said that “Great things never came from comfort zones”.  When people are comfortable and content, they usually do not move out of that position or expand their capabilities. However, when people are out of options, pushed to their limits, and become totally lost in their future plans, often- there is no other choice, but to make a drastic change and try something new and out of the norm.  For many adult learners, going back to school and while balancing their life and career is something totally outside of their comfort zone.  Carving out personal time, in general for many working parents, can be a challenge in itself… but making changes and improving ones quality of life through higher education is worth the intermediate discomfort.  Leaving your comfort zone allows you to look beyond what you think you are capable of and allows you to see how you can do more than you imagined.  When you take the risk and leave your comfort zone and just go “all- in” to reach your goals… you will totally succeed! The only thing that is limiting your success, is you!

Philippians 4:13  says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So, just remember… You can do this! You can finish your degree! Remember your “why” and be ready to get outside your comfort zone. God has given you the will to be successful and with the finish line, just on the horizon, just keep going until you finish!

Your hard work will pay off!

 

This verse reminds me about endurance and that hard work eventually pays off. So many times, life throws a curveball and plans to finish a project, a task, or even a college degree, can get put on the “back burner” of the priority list.

Adult students have so many obstacles and so many distractions, during their college experience, it can sometimes be overwhelming… but the key is to stay focused, take one day at a time, and never give up!

As you are encountering distractions in your educational journey that cause you think about quitting or taking a break, here are a few things to consider or remember:

  1. Remember your WHY! (What prompted you in the very beginning of this journey to pursue finishing your degree??)
  2. Stay focused on your ultimate end-goal! (How will your life change if you continue to do the same thing, and you do not finish this degree?)
  3. Consider who may be watching you? (You never know who in your class or in your circle of friends or family may be watching to see how far you go… your choices will not only affect you- but those watching, as well.)
  4. Who is your support network? (Do you have someone to hold you accountable in this journey- to support and motivate you when times are tough?  If not… find that person, today!  Offer to be someone else’s accountability partner- so you can motivate each other until the end.)
  5. Ask for help! (Belhaven Staff and Faculty are your cheerleaders… come see us if you need help, or just want us to pray with you or encourage you, we care about you!)
  6. Take it one day and one course at a time! (Try not to overwhelm yourself on focusing on ALL of the work, but look at your degree plan, as a marathon… slow, steady, and consistent. You will eventually cross the finish line…so stay on course!)

Changing your life for the better is a good thing… it may not be easy…but if you commit and stay focused, you will finish and you will be blessed! I have never heard anyone ever tell me in my seventeen years in higher education that they regret finishing their degree.  I have only heard, them say… they should have finished it- a lot sooner!  Timing is everything…  It is your season, your time… to make the most of this opportunity!  Some words of encouragement- to those struggling to stay focused… Pace yourself, pray for yourself, and prepare yourself for the finish line!  You can do it!!!

Student Outcomes vs. Student Processes

When you first expressed interest in going back to school… a lot of your focus was more than likely on all the steps, processes, and commitments needed to finalize your enrollment. Although all of these steps are necessary and essential phases of the enrollment process, it’s so important to remember that you must ultimately focus your energy on the outcome versus the processes …the WHY of finishing your degree. Now, as you are sitting in class as a student, your focus is likely on your individual assignments, class meetings, and tests that you must complete in order to move toward your ultimate outcome, graduation!

Think back to the time you initially expressed interest… what made you apply to school? What is your ultimate goal or confirmed need for you pursuing your degree? Consider what your future looks like- both with and without finishing your degree. Can you still achieve your ultimate goal and change your life if you do not finish your degree? Can you still see the value of your education?  Continue to remember your WHY of enrolling … and focus on your end result and outcome.  Staying focused on your end result…and what’s truly in this for you… is something all adult learners need to revisit when they want to quit or give up… because focusing on the end of this race, versus the tiresome miles along the way in this race… can be overwhelming… but the end is nearer than you think…and the outcome will be totally worth it… you can do this… focus on the finish line!

Discovery is a huge part of an adult learner’s ability to commit to finishing their education. You must know why you are doing this… you  must know what is going to change (for the better) when you finish, you must know what the outcome of all of this will be… so that you can make a decision, move forward, commit and finish.  If you haven’t thought about this in a while… or ever, I would encourage you to pause, self-reflect and soul-search to discover for yourself your WHY for all of this.  Remind yourself that your current self-sacrifice will get you to your next step in your life… and ultimately…all of these processes will lead to your outcome… of completing your degree. Focusing on the outcome makes the big picture less daunting and the processes along the way, a little easier to accomplish!

Next time you start to think about the date your next class will start… change your thought process on how close you are to finishing this degree and the date for your graduation ceremony! Think long term and think about where you want to go from the finish line… after all… the end of this…is just the beginning!

Harvest Celebration!

harvest

Harvest is a time of celebration! Those who work in Higher Education know how much hard work goes into the spring and summer months for the planning and preparation of Fall Enrollment. The time has now come to celebrate with our new and current students…. But we must never give up!  Every season is an opportunity to work hard and plant seeds for the future!  God has called us to help others and to minister to one another.  Fall is a wonderful time to reflect on all the work that we have done for His Kingdom… and I’m often reminded of the beauty of how the Lord uses nature in fall to mellow us all after the long and hot summer.

BC Forbes once said “It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the spring, who reaps a harvest in autumn.”

Whether we are working hard on the job….or diligently studying in class… our hard work will pay off, if we do not give up. In Galatians 6:9… it says “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  As easy as it seems sometimes, to just quit or take a long break… consistency will truly pay off in the end and we will get to enjoy the benefits of our labor.

Encouraging ourselves and others to stay the course can be easier said than done; however, holding one another accountable and staying focused on the end result is key to finishing a long project, a huge task, or completing a course in school.

This fall… Enjoy the benefits of your labor and rejoice in knowing God is using you for His purpose and your hard work will pay off!

 

-Erica Johnson, Director of Admission and Student Services -Belhaven Memphis Campus

Don’t be afraid to step up!

Have you ever felt like you were running from or avoiding something, but you weren’t sure why?  Ever been afraid of the “unknown”?  How often do we fear failure?   Life is so busy and filled with so many activities, sometimes it is difficult to slow down and listen to that “still small voice” or truly hear what the Lord may be trying to tell us.  Perhaps, maybe we just have selective hearing because we want to do what we think is best or what pleases us?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The Lord tells us in His word, that he has plans for every one of us…So many times, we are so busy making plans of our own we forget we are not the ones in control.  Being mindful of whose we are and what we are called to do is the first step… then we must listen to what God is calling us to do and step up!

The story of Jonah comes to mind, when thinking about stepping up to God’s commission… Jonah’s story depicts how God truly is in control and is in command of everything to carry out His plan.  If we acknowledge God as having full reign in our lives, He will use us in ways we cannot fathom.  There may be times when God is calling us to lead and we are fearful of failure…but with God’s direction and blessing, we cannot fail.  We can do all things through Christ … and to Him we can give all the Glory!

Jonah 17:9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good.  I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

God knows our talents and abilities better than we know them, ourselves… and He has the master plan.  Resting in Him and stepping out in faith in every aspect of our lives and seeking what it is He calls us to do, requires faithfulness and results in a peace He can only give us.  Our heavenly father knows what is best for His Children before we even figure it out…and being aware of God’s purpose in our lives by staying in consistent communion with Him, allows us the opportunity to truly discover our heart’s desire.

Through personal experience, I can tell you that God can change the desire of our hearts.  He has the ability to change our hearts and put a desire there when it’s necessary to carry out His plan. It is then, when we follow His will for our lives, and obey, that we will experience true peace and happiness and ultimately He will be able to use us to help change lives.

Psalm 37: 4 -5: Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

So, if the Lord is calling us into leadership, we must have no fear!  We must listen and faithfully step up!