Domino Effect

Well, Steve...I hate to admit it...but it looks like we may have to re-instate accountability for getting adequate sleep. I admit I haven't been very responsible in that area lately. At any rate, it caught up to me the other night, and I think this is a good time to explore the "domino effect" of having one things out of kilter that causes other areas to sort of "crash".
I find that I have my best weeks and get the most accomplished when there is some consistent (there's that word again), routine regularity. When I get up at roughly the same time, take my medicine at the same time each day, am on track with my diet, get my vitamins at a particular time, and get adequate sleep (which for me isn't really too much...I really don't need eight hours a night), I find that I have even energy levels, feel good, can think clearly, and EVERYTHING else just tends to work. Well, I screwed that up recently...been off my diet, been getting to sleep way too late, and been "out of rhythm" for when I normally accomplish things. That makes it so when I DO have time to do things, I don't feel like doing them, can't think clearly, and can't predict when I'm going to have energy and when I'm going to be crashing.
A couple of days ago, I crashed. Thank God I've got a "cut day" planned into my schedule, because the other night, when I got home from work, I was edgy and couldn't relax, yet I was tired...SO tired...and couldn't concentrate well either. I decided to explore why...and that's when I realized that this whole thing started when I stayed up VERY late on a work night (not just talking to my AP, either) a couple of nights in a row. That, coupled with having my diet and other aspects of my routine all scrambled around made me feel cruddy and all out of sorts.
I went to bed a little early last night. Needless to say, I feel better already. I'll get back on my diet at supper time tonight, and get my vitamins and all back on a normal schedule....I can't stand too much more of this footloose and fancy-free stuff (A.K.A. irresponsible living habits).

Troy

The Painful Side Of Accountability

I don't know of anybody who gets involved with having a mentor or an accountabilty partner who isn't excited about it...or at least looking forward to the good things it has to offer. It seems that accountabilty partnerships go through an ackward stage at first...both partners are trying to feel each other out, both wondering how far to go, and neither one wanting to offend the other too badly. It's okay to take things slowly, to build trust, and to develop a real caring investment in your brother's success--that's all a part of building the relationship--but the real "nitty-gritty" stage, the part of the relationship that actually does the most good is what comes once that initial foundation is laid and you start to know each other's personalities, weaknesses, and quirks. Once you're comfortable enough with each other to ask the hard questions, and to be a little tougher about things, things get serious. It's a little embarrassing to have to admit that you haven't done what you committed to doing, that you've failed to follow through on your assignments, or that you've made the same old mistake...again. It's HARD to have to be honest and tell your mentoring brother about your mess-ups and indiscretions when you know you're going to be reproved, rebuked, corrected, and instructed in righteousness...and that's the way it should be. Whether it's comfortable or not, it's purifying, edifying, and beneficial.
Since being involved in my accountability partnership with Steve, I've got more consistency in my devotional life and being more consistently responsible on my job, and am taking better care of my personal life than EVER before...and that feels good. I'm actually becoming the responsible, in-control man that I always wanted to become--and that really does make it worth it. I sometimes feel sorry for Steve...he HAS to have a lot of patience to work with me. I teasingly tell him he's the "goody two-shoes" that "mamma always loved best"...because it seems like I've always overlooked something...--but the fact remains that it's worth it...we're getting there...and I'd recommend this to ANYone.