From Self-Reliance to God-Reliance

I became God-reliant, and everything changed!

I am a husband, a father, and a successful professional, and I thought I had it all. I would go to work every day, providing for my family and having nice things—but I wasn’t happy. I would talk to my wife and somehow always end the conversation frustrated. I would spend the little amount of free time I had with my kids and it would go horribly wrong. I was always preoccupied, thinking about one of my jobs or what I wanted in life: a new car, a bigger house, a new boat, etc. (things I thought I needed to be happy). I rushed through the time with my family because I had limited time and was always moving on to the next thing. When something went wrong, I felt that I needed to fix it or deal with it. I put everything on myself because I was “the man,” and I thought that was how I was supposed to be.

Fast-forward some years later. Jackie, who just so happens to be my sister-in-law, presented me with the opportunity to participate in Reform Online. I had heard a lot about Reform from my wife,  Traci, who is a Reform consultant and Holistic Nutritionist. I always thought what Reform was doing for other people was so great. I had read the testimonials and heard about the incredible transformations of their clients. Still, I never considered it for myself. I’d always thought, “I don’t need that—that wouldn’t do me any good—I don’t have the time.”

I logged on for the first class, and as Reform’s nine pillars were introduced, I knew Reform was exactly where I needed to be and what I needed in my life. The way I was living was not true to God, to my family, or to myself.  I learned through the pillars that I was putting all my emphasis on one aspect of my life--work and providing—and I wasn’t giving God, my family, or myself the time essential for living a happy, fruitful life.

From this point on, I started to reclaim the first and last hour of my day and give that time to God. I would pray, meditate, go to adoration, and attend daily Mass. I felt like I had more time in my day rather than less. I stopped squeezing things in. I learned that “No” is a complete sentence. When things didn't go my way or I became anxious or stressed, I changed my lens and became God-reliant instead of self-reliant, as I had been for so many years before. Reform gave me the clarity to see that the life I was living was not leading me to what I wanted: to become a saint.  

From my experience with Reform, I had the courage to make a career change that afforded me the ability to be less stressed, spend more time with my family, and incorporate self-care into my daily routine without guilt. The whole time I am choosing to live with God-reliance and by the words of the Divine Mercy image: “Jesus, I trust in you.”

Reform has changed me in so many ways. I now have Christ at the center of my life and know that, through Christ, all things are possible. I am so grateful to the entire Reform team. I am now holy, strong, confident, a better husband, a better father, and a better son. I have a renewed passion for life and am excited for what is to come. Reform has truly changed me forever.

Jason Z.

Long Island, NY