I’ve Done A Lot Of Repenting The Past Few Years

I've never been a "big sinner."

I know that sounds weird to lead with, but hear me out.

I didn't struggle with major vices or make catastrophic life choices that required dramatic turnarounds. So when I'd hear people talk about repenting daily, I'd think, "What are you all doing on a Tuesday that requires that much repentance?"

The word always felt heavy. Shameful. Like I was supposed to be groveling for forgiveness over things I didn't actually do. Or worse—nitpicking my day to find ways I might have been annoying or wrong. If daily repentance is a thing, I must be a narcissist if I can't come up with something, right?

The mental energy it took to manufacture "wrongs" was exhausting.

Until I found the Greek translation.

What Repentance Actually Means

Most of us think repentance means what Dictionary.com tells us:

"Remorse or contrition for one's past actions or sins."

Webster adds that it includes "a resolve to change."

But here's what the Greek word actually means:

"A change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world."

Wait. THAT'S repentance?

A fresh view? A change of mind?

Suddenly it clicked. I've been repenting daily for YEARS without even realizing it.

My Repentance Journey (Without the Guilt)

Looking back over the past several years, I've done a LOT of changing how I see things.

A fresh view about God? Check. I went from seeing Him as a disappointed disciplinarian to a compassionate cheerleader. That shift alone changed everything.

A fresh view about myself? Double check. I finally separated my worth from my performance. When I snap at my kid or avoid a hard conversation, I can look at it and think, "Yeah, that made sense given what I was thinking and feeling in that moment." I have compassion for myself, clean up what needs cleaning up, and move forward without the shame spiral.

A fresh view about the world? Triple check. I stopped making people who irritate me the villain in my story. When someone close to me said something that felt like a criticism of who I am as a person, I used to replay it for DAYS—spinning stories about their ill intent, then spiraling into what was wrong with ME that made them say it. Now I can think, "I have no idea what's actually going on for them right now." That snapshot moment doesn't define them any more than my worst moment defines me.

I've also started seeing challenges as happening FOR me, not TO me. Every hard situation is training me, not punishing me.

That's repentance, y'all.

Coaching = Daily Repentance

When I invested in life coaching for myself and eventually became a certified coach, I didn't realize I was signing up for daily repentance. But that's exactly what thought work is.

Changing your thoughts truly can change your life—for better or worse.

Thinking differently in a way that brings you closer to truth, compassion, and growth? That's repentance.

And suddenly "repent daily" didn't feel like a confusing guilt trip. It felt like an invitation to keep growing, keep shifting, keep seeing things with fresh eyes.

So What's Got You Stuck Right Now?

Here's what I want you to think about: What's one thing in your life that feels sticky right now?

A relationship that feels off? Procrastination you can't shake? That voice in your head that won't shut up about how you're not enough? Maybe you keep replaying something someone said to you, wondering what you did wrong or what's wrong with you that made them say it in the first place?

Whatever it is, try this:

Take a few minutes and get curious. Ask yourself, "How is this working for my good?" or "How can I look at this differently?"

Don't go hunting for the "right answer." Just explore. If it feels hard, imagine how someone you admire would view this situation. What would THEY see that you're missing?

Let's Dig Through It Together

And look—if you're reading this thinking, "Yeah, I could use a fresh view on about seventeen things right now," that's exactly what I help people do.

If coaching helped me repent daily (change my mind, see things fresh, break those ruminating spirals), maybe it's exactly what you need too.

Book a free clarity session here and let's figure out what thought is keeping you stuck—and what fresh view might set you free.

High five! ✋ 

Want more than a blog pep talk? Go from reading to doing 👉 https://www.outofsmallthings.com/workwithme

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