Feelings, faith and facts
We can choose to view life based on feelings, faith, or facts.
- Feelings – Those who commit to living life in this way are emotionally unbalanced. Their lives are usually up and down like a yo-yo, responding emotionally to others and the circumstances that they face in life. They are inconsistent, not available and often cannot be trusted because they are completely consumed with their unpredictable feelings and emotions.
- Faith – Many people consider this a religious word. Faith has nothing to do with beliefs – it is a doing word. You are either stepping out (or just doing it), taking risks in faith hoping for a positive or tangible outcome, or you are not by feeling negative about everything. People who base life on faith may go between extreme highs and extreme lows. They may step out and take risks in faith but soon after getting disappointed when things do not pan out the way they had hoped for.
- Facts – Living a life based upon facts and truth about who you are. This becomes a strong foundation on which we can build our lives. As we become more self-aware and grounded in who we are by knowing our true identity, we live a balanced but productive life. We do not live for others. While we still have emotional ups and downs and have faith to do things, but we are no longer emotionally led and easily influenced by our circumstances. Our security is grounded in who we are, our true identity. It means that we become mature, consistent, decisive and strong.
The key to living victoriously is to live life based upon facts and truth, enabled by faith to get things done and having feelings for people!
Self-reflection exercise
Take a few moments to reflect on these questions:
- From which of the three perspectives – feelings, faith or facts – do you generally live life most of the time?
- Are there times in your life where you have chosen to put faith before fear? Give some examples.
- What changes can you make to help you live a life that is more consistently based on the truth of who you are, your true identity?