Thankful for the experiences of 2014

20:05:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

2014 has been an interesting year. I seem to need to blog less to express my thoughts and feelings, and talk more to friends and families about my troubles and joys.

Last year, I did a gratitude list for 2013- (link to gratitude list 2013). This year will be no different.


Gratitude list 2014
1. Finishing my PhD! finally, after so many long years. 
2. Business venture finally on track
3. Got debt free by 31 December 2014
4. My mother's health and energy
5. My brother's ability and opportunity to help others
6. A super group of friends who are always there for me
7. Family who are never too far away
8. Opportunities to help clients reach their potentials
9. Enthusiasm of Sunday School Students 
10. Early morning walks with my best friend
11. Health and continued recovery
12. A place to call my home
13. Safety
14. Beautiful lives that will be forever remembered
15. Opportunities to travel to Europe, Newcastle, Darwin, Sydney
16. A new job and team
17. Supervisors who are there when it counts
18. a group of young people who are willing to serve in music ministry
19. People who love my laughter lines
20. Being able to move on from forgiveness
21.  Reaching a healthy weight and being able to model healthy living
22. Patience and emotional regulation improving
23. My cell group, and their continued prayers
24. Phone calls with my best friends
25. Clothes wearing out - lasting all the way up to now
26. People around me who are in love, married this year or got engaged this year
27. New borns this year who have bought me such joy
28. Unexpected gains
29. Opportunities to start something new
30. People I can talk to instead of blogging to express my views
31. Hope for a future I cannot see


I know I have a set of 30 things to do before I'm 30, and I'm slowly working towards the relevant ones. For 2015,  I'm not going to make any new years resolutions. I'm not going to make any SMART goals, or public declarations that I can not keep past January. I'm going to move in valued directions.
Last year, I made a list of goals towards values directions (2014 valued directions goals) and taking stock, I think I've done pretty well.

1) To be thankful for something everyday- Review this list NYeve next year. -- done as promised. 
2) Exercise self-control and discipline- Finish PhD and get down to healthy weight-- done as promised. 
3) To be more connected- More real time, less screen time -- better than last year. 
4) Be a wise steward of money- Get out of debt -- done as promised. 
5) Love others more. WWJD -- better than last year. 

As my values have changed, so will my targets, so for 2015, here is what I will start with.
1) Find new ways and places to serve God
2) To be thankful for something everyday - review this list NYeve next year
3) To make myself more available to friends, family, and new relationships
4) Being more patient
5) Finding more self control.

HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!



(http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252272016601355050/)

No picture to prove it, did it happen?

20:29:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

This evening, there was a stunning display of fireworks we could see from our house,a nd it was perfectly complimented by a bright full moon. As I stood there admiring the scene, mum rushed inside to find her camera phone and fiddling with the camera settings - missing a fair portion of the display. She then proceeded to talk about the smog cloud created by the display.

That would have been me a year ago, a month ago, could have been me yesterday.

But today, I just stood there an enjoyed the show. No, I don't have any photos to prove it happened, nor any magical video capture I could show on instagram. It was just an experience I had, and I was present.

I know there will be many wonders this christmas season, beautiful things that your friends could admire on facebook, instagram, twitter or other social media outlets. I will scroll through my feed and will find things that are beautiful and perhaps like or comment on these things. Yet, there will be MOMENTS. Those moments that are too precious to be fiddling with a camera phone, too precious to tag. There will be moments where you just have to be present. Who cares that you won't have a picture to prove it, it still happened.

Share your Christmas cheers, don't miss those moments. 

Life is short Ode to DG- RIP

21:02:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

I found out today that my best friend from school passed away. Yes, I was best friends with her from Grade 4 all the way through to grade 10 before I changed schools. She had made such a big difference in my life.

When I started at a new school (being the only asian in my grade), she was an instant friend.
When I was too nervous to attempt camp activities, she was by my side.
When I was too shy to speak up, she was by my side.
When I wanted to write my first novel, she was by my side.
When my dad passed away, she was by my side.
When I didn't know how to turn down the first guy who asked me out, she was by my side.
When I had an idea to put on a play at school, she was by my side.
When I was so nervous I couldn't speak properly for the debating competition, she was by my side.
When we graduated primary school and got our awards, she was by my side.
When we entered into a large high school overwhelmed by so many people, she was by my side.
When we woke up to the news of September 11, she was by my side.
When I became teary on the last day of grade 10 knowing that I wasn't going to see many of these friends again, she was by my side.

In high school, especially after I changed schools, we kind of lost contact. In fact, I have lost contact with many people. Part of that is sheer laziness on my behalf. A few weeks ago, I re-contacted DG and had arranged a catchup after her last round of chemo. And it never got there.

She was my rock when I was unsteady. My best friend throughout most of my schooling. Not only was she by my side, but she encouraged me to be a better version of me- to try things I didn't think was possible. And having read through the dozens of well wishes left on her FB wall tonight, I've discovered that over the years she hadn't changed. She was still helping others, still inspiring others, still bubbly and outspoken. It was a short and brave battle. I will always remember the awkward moments, the encouraging moments, the fun moments, but most of all, the us moments. Thank you for being uniquely you.

My dear friend. RIP.

A mini version of #21

20:30:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

Well really, #21 was to learn how to play the guitar.

Instead I've done the mini version and started to learn the ukulele.  I think this is an ok compromise or first step. This is my first song. I have this track on repeat sometimes, because after 8 years of watching How I met Your Mother,  Ted meets the mother. And she is perfect for him.

Maybe one day I will meet someone out there someday who has gone through a similar journey as Ted. Where they have fallen in and out of love, where they have been hopeful and disappointed, where they have sinned and been forgiven, where they have grown as an individual, where they have been hurt and where they have hurt others. Maybe, just maybe I am that one person in their life that the story is waiting for.

So I await the director of my story and his story to make each step to be known. For only He knows.

La Vie En Rose- from How I met Your Mother #HIMYM

https://ukutabs.com/c/cristin-milioti/la-vie-en-rose-2/

Intro: GG chord Gmaj7Gmaj7 chord EmEm chord AmAm chord DD chord D7D7 chord
 
 
GG chord                         Gmaj7Gmaj7 chord
Hold me close and hold me fast
                     EmEm chord
The magic spells you cast
                  AmAm chord  DD chord
This is La Vie en ros-e
 
 
                        D7D7 chord
When you kiss me heaven sighs
                      DD chord
And though I close my eyes
                Dsus4Dsus4 chord D7D7 chord
I see La Vie en ros-e
 
 
GG chord                         Gmaj7Gmaj7 chord
When you press me to your heart
                EmEm chord
I'm in a world apart
                    CC chord
a world where roses bloom
 
 
AmAm chord                        GG chord
And when you speak angels sing from above
AmAm chord                     DD chord
Everyday words seem to turn into love songs
 
 
GG chord                           Gmaj7Gmaj7 chord
Give your heart and soul to me
                     CC chord
And life will always be
   AmAm chord  DD chord       GG chord
La Vie en rose

The sign

11:40:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

I was asking for a sign of what to do in a particular situation. And the situation was growing more and more frustrating and tempting. So I prayed. God give me a sign.

I've never had God answer a prayer so quickly and so clearly. On my walk today, I met with various signs. One of the signs is the the "God loves you" graffiti that I saw which was a good wake up call for me. The second physical sign was when I was about to make a wrong move. Then I stopped. Saw on the side of the footpath, these little signs that indicated what the plants were. No, the tree in question was not in front of the sign. In fact, the tree in the sign was no where in sight.

To me, it was as if God was saying to me, hey look- I'm telling you this is what to look for, this is what it's supposed to look like, and it's not here. Rather than staying right here, right now trying to see the tree/flower that isn't here, why not keep walking, and you might, just might see what the sign is showing you. 

Yes, our God is sovereign- not only in earth moving large scale things, but also in the tiniest signs and details in our lives.

Allowing space with towards moves

10:53:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

I recently made a brave towards move. Allowing people into our lives makes us more vulnerable as human beings, but without these moves, it makes it difficult for us to move towards values of relationships, love or trust.

Sometimes I think that it's crazy that Jesus made a towards move for us. Because he loved us so much, he chose to come to earth to suffer for our sake. He gave us a choice. This is the perfect example of love, to do these towards moves- making ourselves vulnerable to pain and suffering, but at the same time, allowing space for amazing things to happen. And it might not happen- while some choose to take Jesus up on his offer of love and eternal life, others flat out say "I'm not interested" or "Please do not solicit" or "Go away". Willingness is about allowing space for these things to happen- either way.

I can never be compared to Jesus in that light, because I'm crazy scared, crazy worried, and thinking that my choice to open up to options is crazy. And (not but), and, at the same time, I am glad that I've allowed space, mostly.

Not about the weight

10:27:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

A year ago today, I was 5kg heavier, sad, stuck. It was never about the weight. When it was about the weight, I found I was actually gaining more weight when I stressed about it.

The shift in focus this year was to do with doing more of the stuff that matters to me. Spending time with friends, doing exercise that I enjoyed, doing work that I love, serving God joyfully, eating the foods that I wanted with enjoyment, mindfully.

And as I begun to do more of the stuff that mattered to me, the more I was living in accordance with the ways I teach my clients, the easier it became. And, a side effect was that I did indeed lose weight. I am finally back to pre-phd weight, and with an extra kilo weight loss, I would be at a weight my GP would be happy with.

This wisdom doesn't come from the ACT framework alone; valued actions. You know, the bible had it in black and white long again. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be given as well.

#16 showering under a waterfall- done.

20:00:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

Just returned from my trip to Darwin and showered under a waterfall. I was a bit scared, but I did it. Feels good to be honest.

Letting go and moving forward

21:28:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

I find my thought scattered. At the same time of letting go of thoughts and ideas, I think I am moving on, but one never truly forgets the past. It's about not making new decisions based on past judgements, but past experience.

It was also a week of practising gratitude. Here are some of the things I shared with my FB friends this week:
- Feedback- both positive and constructive feedback in both my research and my clinical practice, without which I will fail to improve
- The absolutely packed weekend including the baptisms of dear friends and soccer with my guys. 
- The opportunities to travel and have adventures.
-My wallpaper being changed to remind me that it's R U Ok? Day. This day recognizes that unlike physical insults mental health concerns and pain can be unseen. And that support from others is a really important part of recovery.
- Waking up from uninterrupted sleep and having both a song in my head and smile on my face.
- The little things in life like bumping into a friend at the train station, getting a free coffee, a strangers smile (and phone number lol), getting a lovely message in my inbox, a wonderfully productive yet peaceful day at work, and making it to the train station with plenty of time to spare.
- The beautiful Aussie landscape on my morning epic commute.
- The phone and technology that allows me to call those who are not so close to me.
- The colour green which brings feelings of comfort, freshness and renewal of energy.
Three things I am grateful for today. 
- Being able to do a job I love- being able to give support to people in their weakness and help them reach their potential
- Being able to serve in children's ministry- each kid is more important to me than they realise.
- Having a great team to both work with and serve with.
- My family who have stood behind me and supported me through life's many challenges over the years, and particularly in the last 12 months. 
- Friends who love me despite my quirks.
- A heavenly father that loves me, His grace and His forgiveness.

I've started the final revision process of my Phd, clinical endorsement has been wrapped up, and I've started to finally open up to the idea of dating. So I am at quite a cross road as to where I head in my career, what I do, and for a first time in a long time, the idea of actually putting myself out there, vulnerable, to meet people, make friends with the male gender. 

Somehow uprooting myself and starting fresh in a new city, with new people would make it easy to perhaps finally have a life I want. But sticking around also has it's sweet spots- my kids, I'd miss them, my in-between client swims, home made dinners by mum, my room, which is a safe haven, my clinical reputation that I'm building here. So I ask myself, are you ready to let go of the life you have now, to experience a life you could have? It is by faith whether I stay or I go. 



Another mid autumn festival

08:32:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

中秋快乐! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Doesn't matter where you are in the world, I hope that you can be reunited with your loved ones (they are really only a quick phone call away). May lovers cross that bridge and find one another. And may the moon be as bright where you are compared to here. Happy mooncake eating!
 Somehow I had wished that I would have met my Hou Yi by now. I haven't, not even close. But at least this year I am surrounded by family and friends!

Spring is coming

15:54:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

The winter has been too long. As if inspired by the movie Frozen, I have been really frozen inside and out. It has been a very long winter for me and things have been at a standstill for so long.
The PhD took way longer than I expected, the clinical endorsement problem and financial stress was lingering for longer than I had expected, recovering from sickness and heartache all took it's toil.

For a long time, my life was suspended, as if there was no movement. Now, all of a sudden, so many things are happening for me. Will get the feedback from the first round of PhD examiners in a little under 2 weeks, handed in the forms to get clinical endorsement (marking the end of the clinical registrar program), finally down to the healthy weight range, finally smiling a full smile, finally getting some financial stability, and fnally getting somewhere with letting go of past pains (reconnected with old friends and aligned myself with new friends). I'm not there yet, but I feel the spring air coming.

But through all that, I struggled. I struggled because I tried to find my own way of solving all these problems. I would start with solution A...Z, and nothing would work, it would seem that I dug myself deeper and deeper into debt, heartache, procrastination, depression. Relying on my own might was a waste of energy. When I learned to let go, ask people to pray for me, pray for myself, and just let go, and LET GOD, things started to fall into place. Not into an image of what I thought my life would look like, but a picture of what God wants my life to look like.


Building the perfect man

19:29:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

A fair few friends have been seeking my advice on love lately. And I think likewise, I have been curious to find out why people choose the partners that they do.
No one is perfect, we are all imperfect sinners needing grace. A wise friend and I had a chat about this today, she said, people aren't not good enough for your or vice versa, one is simply more blessed by God in a certain area. Because everything is from above. AMEN to that!
We are however, allowed to choose qualities that matter to us. And equally so, to choose qualities that don't stick well for us. So when I stumbled on this image on facebook today, I had a little laugh, just how would I spend $5 to build my perfect man. I found it simply impossible to do choose all the qualities I thought were important. And isn't that a great reflection of reality, how no one is perfect.


going the wrong way - again

20:32:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

The morning started out great, which made this afternoon/evening a lot easier. And I really truly had a great day at work - feeling valued, enjoyed a great lunch with my new buddies, and was able to put some skills into practice. And I believe it's to do with the 6 day work week, waking up at insane hours before the sun has risen that made this afternoon really really difficult.

4.08pm. In my joggers walking to Upper Mount GStation, down 3 flights of stairs.
4.15pm. Happy chappy - got to the bus stop, 555 bus arrived taking me to university bus stop 3 mins away.
4.18pm. Arrived at university stop, and a 169 bus arrived so I got on....
4.23pm.... Why am I back at upper mount G? Ok, I'll climb up 3 flights of stairs, cross over to the other side. Another 150 bus arrived.
4.26pm... got back to the university stop, and ok, this time breathe, climb up the stairs to hop on the 150 bus on the other side....
4.30pm... down the stairs, and hopped on a bus, won't get it wrong this time. a few minutes later, again I arrived at Mount G... What on earth? sweat down my forehead, absolutely spinning, heart racing, nausea... about to cry...really crying and broken inside.
4.37pm... waiting patiently for 220? to take me back to the university bus stop.
4.40pm... finally got to the university bus stop, waited patiently for a P137 going in the right direction...
5.00pm... (an hour after I finished work) finally got to the train station... train pulls up, and i collapse in my seat.
6.03pm... finally arrive at the final train station.

7 bus transfers. Up and down enough stairs for my weekly cardio. Absolutely dead tired. Disorientated. Defeated.

Asking for prayers regarding these epic trips of mine to work. Not quite sure 4 hour commute really fits for me, but it will have to do for the next 6 months.

Another friend engaged

20:35:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

It's funny, we met together 2 weeks ago, it was almost as if we had guessed this would happen. Yes, she's engaged. My batman loving friend. As soon as I got the news I was smiling ear to ear. What great news to start off the week!

So amongst all these weddings and engagements that I have been attending, I have tried to remain relatively invisible. Because the question always comes up, and I smile cheekily- yes, I'm still single. And so the happy couples all around me offer their advice and services as potential match makers. The brief is simple but tough. Only introduce a man after God's own heart to me- someone who would love God more than everything, even me. Someone who would turn down an important sports match, career progression, tv dramas, lifestyle choices, in the service of God. I have yet to meet such a person. In fact, I'm not even that type of person.

There are so many times, that I have chosen to dine with friends besides attend an extra prayer meeting, or watched an extra tv show instead of spending time in God's word, or aimlessly surfed the internet instead of singing praises. So why on earth would a man after God's own heart choose me to be a partner? My only strength is that I'm a Christian- and not even a good one. I have a multitude of flaws- from being extremely critical, lazy, selfish, etc.... Well I have undersold myself, I have one other strength, that is I am developing each and everyday- I am becoming less critical, lazy, selfish, etc over time.

So it would seem that I would also want to find a man who is wanting to be after God's own heart. Someone who is craving growth in Christ, and that someone also wants someone to grow together with.

In my speech at my best friend's wedding, I spoke about the proposal. There really wasn't spectacular fireworks, nor rose petals that littered the floor. There was no romantic music or flash mob dance. Instead, it was simply the perfect words, said at the perfect time, by the perfect person for my best friend. I'm also not going to make the mistake of trying to find the perfect person- because they don't exist (even if they do, we wouldn't be compatible, because I am far from being perfect). Instead, I will look for the perfect person for me. Someone who is just as imperfect as myself, and who is determined to grow with me in Christ.

5 Questions That Can Change Your Life

21:04:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

Here are my answers to five questions that can change your life.

1. What’s my tennis ball? 

What is the thing that drives my passion?
At first I thought it was to work with children, I love watching a child light up when they get rewarded for reaching their goals- it wouldn't matter how tired I am, as soon as I can connect to a child in whatever they are doing and be there as they grow, all the fatigue just goes away. Then I thought it was to be a youth leader at church and lead young people to grow in Christ- kids to desire Gods word. Then I thought it was teaching at university- the sheer joy of roaming around the room and watching, almost hearing the clogs tick in the minds of my students, when concepts gel together. Then I thought it was to be a great lover, to support my partner in everything that he does. But I don't think any one of those things are my tennis ball. It's all of those things, and the communality in those things is my desire to help others to move towards growth and reach their potential.

2. What am I grateful for?  
I am grateful for many things. For the simple things like time, family, friends, for the challenging things and for a future that I am unsure of.

3. What would I attempt to do if I knew I could not fail?
This question blew my mind- if I knew I could not fail, it wouldn't be anything academic or innovative that I would attempt. But if I knew I could not fail, I would be open to being in love again.

4. What if I made one small change?
One small change I'm making this year, no, this month, no this week, is not making any excuses for being late. And working towards a larger change of not making excuses and not being late.

5. What will make a better story?
In five years, where do I see myself. Hopefully, I will have a PhD, a fully registered clinical psychologist... all those academic things. But wouldn't it be lovely to have met someone who I can travel with and have explored some pretty amazing places. That, is something I wouldn't regret.


Original post:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brainstorm/201407/5-questions-can-change-your-life
5 Questions That Can Change Your Life
The right question makes all the difference. What's your tennis ball?
by Warren Berger 
What can a question do? If it’s the right question, it can change your life. In my research on the power of inquiry for my book A More Beautiful Question, I learned that asking challenging questions—of others, and particularly, of yourself—can do everything from helping you overcome fears to enabling you to make better decisions and life choices.
Why are questions so powerful?

When we formulate questions, we begin to “organize our thinking around what we don’t know,” according to the Right Question Institute, a nonprofit educational group that studies questioning. Indeed, often just by asking a question, we are taking the first step toward learning something new or solving a problem. Questioning is also associated with divergent thinking, which taps into our creativity. And there’s evidence to suggest that questions are highly motivating: Ask yourself a question and your mind almost can’t help going to work on finding an answer.

Of course, some questions are better than others. While researching my book, I asked many successful people—innovators, business leaders, great creative thinkers—to share questions they found to be particularly powerful.
Here are 5 of those questions—each designed to help with a different aspect of living a better life. Try asking yourself these questions, but don’t be in a rush to find a quick or easy answer. These aren’t the kinds of queries Google can answer; a more personal “search” may be required.
1. What’s my tennis ball?

This question is derived from a commencement speech given at MIT last year by Drew Houston, founder of the successful information storage service Dropbox. It's a more interesting way of asking yourself, What do I really care about? or, What am I meant to do? As Houston explained in his speech, “The most successful people are obsessed with solving an important problem, something that matters to them. They remind me of a dog chasing a tennis ball.” To increase your own chances of happinessand success, Houston said, you must “find your tennis ball—the thing that pulls you.”
Where should you look for that thing that pulls you? Pay attention to your own behavior and to the things you find yourself doing without thinking. “When you’re in a bookstore,” says author Carol Adrienne, “what section are you drawn to?” Another suggestion is to think about what you loved doing in younger days. “The things we loved as a child are probably still the things we love,” says Eric Maisel, a psychotherapist and author. He suggests drawing up a list of favorite activities and interests from childhoodto “see what still resonates with you today.” Once you’ve figured out what pulls you, it’s time for another question: How might I find a way to incorporate this interest or activity—this tennis ball—into my everyday life?

2. What am I grateful for?  
Self-questioning can easily drift toward a focus on what’s missing in one’s life: Why don’t I have more money, a better job, a bigger house?Meanwhile, we tend to take for granted what we actually have going for us. But happiness experts say that if you want to find a quick and easy way to bring more positive energy into your life, start by asking yourself the question above—and keep asking it, every day.
“Gratitude is a shortcut to happiness,” says the filmmaker Roko Belic, whose 2011 documentary Happy was a study in what makes some people happier than others. The same conclusion was reached by Tal Ben-Shahar, a professor at Harvard University and author of Happier and Being Happy. He believes it’s important to “cultivate the habit of gratitude” by asking, at the end of each day, What am I grateful for? and writing the answers in a “gratitude journal.” He maintains that people who do this tend to be not only happier but also more successful and more likely to achieve their goals.
3. What would I attempt to do if I knew I could not fail?
This question, quite popular among risk-taking entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley today, can be traced back more than three decades to American pastor Robert Schuller, who used it in inspirational sermons and books. More recently, it was featured in a popular TED talk by technologist Regina Dugan, who hailed the question’s power to help people get pastfear of failure—so that “impossible things suddenly become possible.”
How can a mere question help conquer fear? It has to do with the power of the hypothetical “what if” to enable us temporarily to shift reality and look at the world through a different lens. By asking What if I could not fail?, we create a mental landscape in which the constraint of failure is removed. This frees up the imagination to think of the most ambitious possibilities. Of course, at some point one must return to real-world thinking, where failure is a very real possibility—and ambitions may have to be scaled back. But the point of this question is to allow you to at least start out thinking big and bold.
4. What if I made one small change?
As you set out to make actual changes in your life, start small. Wall Street executive Caroline Arnold, author of Small Move, Big Change, advises that if you focus on “microresolutions”—small, targeted, behavioral changes—you’re much more likely to succeed in improving your life.
For example, when Arnold set out to “get in shape,” she focused on one small behavioral change—walking to work instead of taking the train. And she only committed to doing this once a week, on Mondays. Eventually it became a habit, and now she walks to work every day. So why not just resolve to walk to work every day to begin with? By holding yourself to that higher standard, your chances of failure are greatly increased, Arnold says. Bottom line: Resist the urge to try to change too much, too quickly. Begin, instead, by asking, What if I made one small change?
5. What will make a better story?
Life is about choices: Do I take this path or that one? When you come to forks in the road, ask yourself this wonderful question, shared by author and consultant John HagelWhen I look back in five years, which of these options will make the better story?
Why use this question to guide you? Because, as Hagel explains, “No one ever regrets taking the path that leads to a better story.”

Warren Berger (@GlimmerGuy) is the author of A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas.

Holding Nothing Back

15:25:00 Kikoprincess 0 Comments

Over a couple of days last week, we had a visit from a Malaysian worship team. In a series of worship workshops that followed, the bunch of young people who attended, myself included were bought back to the heart of worship.

Sometimes I stand frustrated in the front of a crowd, trying all my skills and techniques to get others to sing. Trying to move emotions, change hearts. When the people before me chat amongst themselves or fail to sing, I sometimes take it as a personal attack. It's the wrong attitude to worship and leading worship.

It's a good reminder to bring myself back to God, and have none of this pride, this leaning on my own abilities get in the way. I'm going to hold nothing back, I will choose to worship freely because God is worthy of all - everything-

Holding Nothing Back: Ryan Stevenson
guitar tabs: http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/r/ryan_stevenson/holding_nothing_back_crd.htm

Verse 1:

Em           C               G
Behind this curtain there is
               D
A heart that's hurtin'

It's been
Em       C
Takin' a beating
     G                 D
It's starting to fall apart
Em               C           G
And I feel like such an easy target
         D
dodgin' bullets
       Em
I'm exhausted
              C              G       D
How can every moment be this hard?

Pre-Chorus:

            Em                C
I'm Holdin' Nothin' back from you
               G             D
Doesn't really matter what I lose
                   Em
Got a heart that's open
    C
I'm broken
      G           D
And I want you to Know

Refrain:
Em  C
Jesus
G            D   Em
I don't want anything
       C        G
Comin' in between
D       Em
You and me
   C
Jesus
        G             D               Em
Doesn't matter what I have to go through
            C       G
I'm holdin' nothin' back
        D         Em    C    G    D
nothin' back from you

Verse 2:
Em         C              G
I've got a list that goes on and on
     D          Em
It's overflowin'
                 C
With memories of everything
     G               D      Em
That I've been doin' wrong
                C        G
And I'll be the first to say
                  D               Em
I've chased after so many foolish things
              C                   G
Looking for a way to kill the pain
     D
Oooh

(Pre-Chorus)
(Refrain)

Bridge:
                C
I try to do the right thing
         G
Why am I strugglin'
        D
Day to day
                     Em
With these same ol' things
                        C
Whatever's takin' you place
                       G
I'm gettin' out of the way
                       D
I'm getting out of the way

Refrain 2:
Em
Jesus
C                G
I don't want anything
             D
Comin' in between...
Em
Jesus
C                    G
I'll do what I gotta do
                    D
I'm holdin' nothin' back

Back from you

(Refrain)
D          Em    C    G
Back from you
        D          Em    C    G
Nothing back from you
D          Em    C    G    D
Back from you


You can read more about the song here: http://www.ccmmagazine.com/article/ryan-stevenson-story-behind-holding-nothing-back/

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