Making Space

Today kicks off a tradition that has been around since the 11th century.

Ash Wednesday is the start of a 40 day fast that ends on Easter Sunday typically practiced by Catholics, known as Lent.

During these 40 days participants willingly choose to give up something of significance in order to increase their dependence on God.

Whether you are religious or not the practice of Fasting can bring forth dramatic change in your life.

Fasting can help you:

• Break bad habits

• Increase your appreciation

• Help build new habits

• Take you out of your comfort zone

One of my favorite perks that come with fasting is that you create more space in your life.

If you are doing a 24 hour fast from food, you just created at least two extra hours in your day that you would have spent preparing/ordering and eating food.

A fast like this will not only give you time back but it will also increase your appreciation for your next meal.

And let’s be honest I think everyone could benefit from truly appreciating the things we take for granted like a simple meal.

Another way to view fasting is to purposely avoid comfort.

In our lives today we run to comfort because well, it’s comfortable.

Fasting takes you out of that comfort zone and should push you into something better.

Like fasting TV before bed and reading a book instead.

Not like fasting ice cream and eating frozen yogurt instead.

The goal is to make space by fasting something you depend on in order to make time for something you should be doing.

I challenge you to join the 40 day fast.

Pick something you do daily and avoid it for 40 days. Then pick something you want to get better at and use that time to practice it.

Set yourself apart by your actions.

Go out and make a difference.