“The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own.” (Dr. Albert Ellis)
This statement illustrates an important principle for success this year:
Make Things Happen
Having a successful year, living well and accomplishing worthwhile goals are majorly dependent on one thing: YOU making things happen! Each of us needs to assume responsibility for his or her life, and be prepared to change when necessary. We need to resist the temptation to view ourselves as victims. We need to stop blaming others, God or our circumstances for our lack of growth or problems. We need to own our growth process and development.
Here are two keys to make things happen this year:
1. Be proactive, not reactive. When you are reactive, you sit passively and wait for things to happen to you before you respond. Being proactive means you make things happen. You take the initiative. You take the first step.
- You take the first step to forgive and reconcile a relationship.
- You don’t wait for the other person to change; You change your attitude first.
- You say sorry first.
- You join a gym before you are forced to get in shape due to high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
- You leave a job or renegotiate your job responsibilities instead of feeling resentful.
- You change a bad habit or start a good one.
2. Be disciplined. We make things happen when we are disciplined. My honest confession is this: I am not a disciplined person. I will not get up and exercise every day like my wife will. She has internal discipline that I don’t have. But that does not count me out. I simply set up an external structure for exercise. I joined a gym and I attend exercise classes that make me work out for an hour. I guess I am disciplined enough to drag myself to the gym, but having the accountability definitely helps me make exercise happen. You might find a little extra encouragement in these words of wisdom:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
Having a successful year starts with a commitment that you will make things happen by being proactive, not reactive and by being disciplined. The first step is yours to make…today! And if at first you don’t succeed, keep trying (unless of course you tried skydiving!)
Reflection Questions:
How do you view your self? As a victim or as an overcomer?
When things go wrong, how do you respond? Do you tend to blame others or take responsibility for the situation?
What might be one thing you could do to improve your work habits?
What is one new habit you could begin to develop today? Who could help keep you accountable?
Make Things Happen is the first principle of MAXIMIZERS. You can read more here.
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Steve Morgan
stevermorgan.com 