We live in a world that encourages constant curiosity: about politics, celebrities, trends, and even other people’s lives. But there’s one place our curiosity rarely ventures—inward.
We scroll, analyze, critique, and consume, but rarely do we pause to observe ourselves—our patterns, our posture, our internal narratives. And yet, every true transformation begins with one quiet, radical act: awareness.
Awareness is the moment you stop running on autopilot. It’s the moment you realize that what you’ve been calling “normal” might actually be a familiar dysfunction.
Here’s what I’ve observed often among people of faith:
Spiritualizing passivity
You say you’re “waiting on God,” but deep down you’re afraid to take a risk.
You’ve made inaction sound holy, but it’s really fear dressed up as faith.
Hyper-independence masked as strength
You’ve learned to do it all yourself—career, finances, family. You wear it like a badge of honor.
But beneath the surface is a belief that no one will show up for you… including God.
These kinds of patterns feel spiritual—but it’s actually dysfunction disguise.
The truth is:
You cannot change what you’re unwilling to see.
You cannot steward what you refuse to own.
Before any movement, growth, healing, or breakthrough—there must be awareness.
For years, I couldn’t figure out why certain areas of my life, especially my love life, felt stagnant. I was confident and successful in other areas of my life. I was doing “all the right things” and still felt stuck.
I prayed. I waited. I hoped.
And I quietly blamed everything around me, including God.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was living like a spectator—watching my own life unfold as if I had no authority in it. I was waiting for God to “send” the answer, when in reality, He had already given me the power to steward the question.
The shift came when I saw myself—really saw myself.
I had unknowingly embraced a victim mindset. I believed life was happening to me, and everything I was experiencing was simply, ‘God’s will.’
But when I gained just a tiny bit of self-awareness, everything changed. I realized that God had called me to be a steward over every area of my life. To preside over my life. To manage my mind, my heart, and my choices, like a steward.
And that shift—from blind repetition to clear awareness—was the beginning of everything.
The Presiding Action: Try This Awareness Audit
This week, get curious about yourself.
Pick one area of your life that feels frustrating or stagnant—relationships, work, finances, health.
Ask yourself:
- What story am I telling myself about this area?
- Am I acting like a steward… or a spectator?
- What am I tolerating that I haven’t been honest about?
- Have I mistaken fear or avoidance for faith?
- What would it look like to take radical responsibility here?
Write down what you notice—not to judge yourself, but to become aware.
Remember: Awareness is not the final step.
It’s just the first—and most powerful—one.