The One Thing That Guarantess Failure Every time

What will guarantee your failure in any endeavor? Whether it is a business venture; a weight loss program; saving your marriage; an exercise program; your spiritual journey; whatever it is , this one thing will cause you to fail: EXCUSES!

What is an excuse?
Someone has defined it as a well-planned lie. We don't see it like that, but every time we give an excuse why we can't or why we shouldn't or why we didn't, we are giving a well-planned lie to reason away our lack of results. We cannot live by excuses. As a pastor I was sure there was a book listing all the latest excuses, because there were all the common one's and then every now and again a new one.

Our excuses could include blaming others, or the weather, or the circumstances, or the economy, or our parents, or leadership or some other obscure reason. But the fact of the matter is, you are the result of your reasoning,your excuses you have made for not getting results in your life.

One of the big ones that Christians use is that the Lord...
Have you noticed how often He changes His mind? Well, not really. Its really us. As soon as we hit a bump, an obstacle, a pressure point, as soon as it gets hard on our flesh or the seems to be a insurmountable problem, we say the Lord doesn't want me to do it anymore. Maybe I shouldn't be doing this. Maybe the Lord is revealing that its not His will.

O My goodness! We just make excuse after excuse and we get so good at them, that we actually believe our own excuses after awhile.

Let's leave those well planned lies behind and begin to believe we can find a way, that we can solve the problem, that we can finish what we start, that we can fulfill our commitments, that we can do that which needs to be done

We Are Human

"If you don't change, reality in the
end forces that change upon you."
— Stuart Wilde: Metaphysical author, modern visionary

We're human. Therefore, for many of us, we don't change our eating habits until the doctors or diseases force us to. We don't change our spending habits until we have to sacrifice the things we love. We don't always embrace spirituality until our days on earth are numbered. It's the rare, but enlightened person who chooses to change before change is thrust upon him or her.

Hello....Hello....

Some simple action steps for improving your listening skills:

• Don't finish other people's sentences. There is nothing worse than having someone constantly finish your sentence, or put in a word when you are thinking of what to say. What's worse is they usually get it wrong. In the end you don't even feel like talking anymore.
  
• Don't daydream while the person is talking (it's easy to space out and start thinking about something irrelevant to the conversation). This can be really embarrassing for you. Ever have someone talking to you and you went off to another zone and they asked a question? When you came back to earth you discover you don't know the question and therefore reveal your wonderful interest in what they were saying. Pay attention.
  
• Plan your response after the person has finished speaking, even it means there will be a delay in the conversation. A bit of silence is well worth it. Think about what you are going to say. Again, many times people will speak without contemplating their response and the result being they have either misunderstood totally, or they address what was said insensitively. This can especially happen when you are listening with your mouth full of words ready to blurt out your response just because you have something to say, before they are even finished speaking. Be sensitive.
  
• Provide feedback in the form of rephrasing what you heard. Sometimes we are listening though our filters and don't hear what's behind the words, properly. By repeating you actually confirm the "heart" of what was said, and therefore can adress it correctly, not just assuming.
  
• Take note of non-verbal cues. They're an important part of communication. Watch the body language it will also assist in assessing the person's intention and motive in what they are saying.
  

A Sense That Makes The Difference.

At a business coaching session recently, someone said they wish they could have their employees go through a course on 'Common Sense'. Well, my response was, "I'm still working on that one", But it got me thinking about the concept of having some common sense.

Common sense is defined as the ability to make intelligent decisions in every day matters. At first, that seems like a daunting concept, that not every one can aspire to, but still its common sense. So, it should be something that everyone has or at least has access to.

Common sense, in its raw form, is the practical-abilty of using what you know. In other words, its the ability we have of applying our knowledge in a practical way to result in a productive outcome. Its a sense of foresight, of discernment, keeness, shewdness that we should be applying in every day matters.

So, this sense we should be applying, should be common among us, but I don't always see that. I don't believe I even always apply it to my own circumstances. When I look at the definition, I see more than just a "well its the right thing to do". No! This concept speaks of a deeper meaning, the ability to be practical with foresight and discretion for every day matters. And yet it should be common.

Well how do I get common sense?
King Solomon said that wisdom is the principal thing. Wisdom in its definition, is the skill to apply knowledge in every day affairs. Wisdom comes from God. Spending time with God and His word every day will begin to manifest as "common sense" in your life.
Taking time to think through a concept to make it practical. Many have a good idea or know what needs to be done, but just do not know how to practically apply it. Why wait for the big things in your life, start in the little things and the big things will get easier.
Jesus said the children of this world are more shewd than the children of light. He was talking in this sense about how they use their resources. People of the world manage their resources with far more foresight and wisdom and prudence and discernment, many times, than does the church.

We need to apply ourselves, take the time to let God teach you the principles of wisdom's discernment and insight and understanding. Let's begin to be practical minded about what we believe and know in this world. Let's apply what God has given us all, the thing called Common Sense.

Get Out The Box!

"Think outside the box!", they told me, but what they meant, I did not have the faintest idea. Looking back now, I didn't even know I was in a box. All my years growing up I had seen only seen one way of doing things from my parents. I was well aware that there were many others who lived better than us and accomplished more than us, but that was just their fate-their BOX.

As the years went on and I began to meet people and learn new things and be exposed to new mindsets, I discovered, I WAS IN A BOX. My life had been fashioned and dictated by a certain mindset, although sincerely, but sincerely wrong. Of course, we were totally convinced we were right, however the results and way we lived proved us wrong. I was rewarded and punished according to that mindset, and slowly but surely over the years my BOX was being formed for me.

With encounters with people of different mindset, I began to realise I needed a change in thinking, in mindset - I needed to think outside the box. Not only did I need this new pattern of thinking, but I also needed to put this thinking pattern into action. No longer could I be an expression only of what I was raised on, I needed to begin to form my own expression.

So, what does it take to get a new mindset and begin to set it into motion?

1. Firmly realise that not all you have been exposed to and taught is the total reality of life.
2. Read about and meet others who have stepped out of their box, and probabaly challenge yours.
3. Decide what roles you want to fulfill in your life and what those roles will accomplish.
4. Begin today to envision a new you in those roles. Allow the dreams and desires in your heart to begin to take shape, regardless of whether you, or others, think it possible or not.
5. Act. Take some action steps today, this week, this month and this year to move you in the direction of your vision, your dreams and desires.

Don't allow the box to limit you all your life. What box has been created to box you in? Begin to think outside that box!

Trials...?

"The gem cannot be polished without
friction, nor man perfected without trials."
— Chinese Proverb

What do you call a person who breezes through college, lands the perfect job, climbs the corporate ladder with ease, and quickly makes a fortune? A fairy tale — it just never happens. Real life is littered with struggle, problems, mistakes, and lessons. And like a gem, each should be treasured because they are what will build your best life.

Motivational Quote

"Your life right now is a reflection of your past thoughts. That
includes all the great things, and all the things you consider not
so great. Since you attract to you what you think about most, it
is easy to see what your dominant thoughts have been on every
subject of your life, because that is what you have experienced."
— Rhonda Byrne: Australian writer and producer, known for The Secret