Today's Provident Living Tip:

90% of your success in a survival (and I mean minor OR major crisis) is this:

• How good are you at being compassionate with yourself and turning to God when you're faced with difficulty and failure?
• How good are you at looking around at what you HAVE, instead of what you haven't?
• How good are you at knowing when it's time to get some outside help?

...............
Obviously, no matter how much food and other supplies you lay up in store, there will be unexpected things you "should have" gotten..sooner.....because, let's face it, all of us are good procrastinators. In that moment, can you love yourself enough to allow the needed ideas and strength from God to flow into you?  Are you willing to honestly tell the right person, "I am falling apart and I need some support." (The right person is the one who will remind you that you are capable, and continue to love and respect you while they help.)

Being stuck in the "beat myself up" place will limit your ability to get the answers you need to thrive in the face of adversity....I know this personally.

Being honest with yourself about where you are at, that you are struggling and need help is a key to receiving it.  Of course being grateful and aware of all that we have is vital, yet recognizing your own lack of gratitude and awareness helps you to go to the lord with "Help my unbelief."

Have you ever been too busy beating yourself up about your unbelief to ask the Lord to help it?

I've had some really profound spiritual experiences and so many miracles and evidences of God's love and support in my life, and when my faith feels weak I feel guilty for having doubt..seeing I have been given so many reasons to believe. This wastes my time and energy that could be better put to use seeking the guidance and forgiveness that I need (Don't we just sometimes need an extra dose of the spirit of forgiveness that gives us power to forgive, love and accept ourselves so we can move on?).

I have learned that it isn't about how much I have, it's about how much I recognize it.  Laying up in store healthy mindsets and attitudes is as much a part of thriving in a crisis as food, clothing, and other basic necessities.

The Staples of a Thriving Mindset:

Faith: trust God and be loyal

Gratitude: consciously recognize all God has given and done for you

Acceptance: chose to love yourself and others as they are while working to improve, so you allow yourself to receive the help you need

Forgiveness: allow yourself to let go of the pain and anger of past experiences so you and they can grow into the person God designed you and others to be.