How Are You (Really)?

Functional or fine. 

For the longest time, I really couldn’t really discern the difference. 

One afternoon I quickly learned.

A few years ago my car started overheating, not all the time, just when the car was idle.  It was the weirdest thing.  All the gauges would read normal, like the car was fine, as long as it remained in motion.  But as soon as I stopped at a light, waited in the drive through line, slowed down in traffic, I would painstakingly watch my temperature gauge inch toward dangerously high levels. 

Like clockwork, when I picked up speed, it was "fixed." 

For a while, outsmarted the gauges. I drove my car for many miles, accomplishing many things ignoring the signs while functioning.  

Speed concealed my car's true condition, and it can also conceal yours.

If we’re honest, many of us are riding through our lives with tires worn past tread, engines pleading for oil, and gas tanks hyperventilating for more fuel, but since we aren’t completely stranded on the side of the road, we drive on, hiding behind our functioning, feeling anything but fine. 

So, I ask you again. Are you functional or are you fine? 

When I am unsure, I do what I call an,  “under the hood” scan. While it won’t give a full diagnostic, it is a great place to start. 

To begin, close your eyes and ask yourself, “how would you rate how you feel spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and relationally on a scale of 1-10?  Once you assign numbers, ask yourself, what is one thing you can do this week to move your rating up one number this week? 

I believe being functional is one of the biggest cover ups on earth.

Don’t allow the speed you’re traveling to conceal the true condition of your physical mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Look under the hood and do a quick assessment of where you are. Because even though you may look fine, you could be masquerading as functional.