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Creating a Legacy ™

The Constant, Predictable, Pattern of Change

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Pattern of Change

The tide comes in and then recedes; the sun rises, giving light, and then sets, bringing darkness. Drought plagues the farm fields of the world, followed by rain in abundance.

On this day, we swelter under the intense heat of the July sun, and soon we clothe ourselves against the penetrating cold of the mid-winter storm. Prosperity brings her abundant opportunity and rewards, but will withdraw at a future time when confronted by a receding business climate.

The smile gives way to the tear, as does the joy to the sorrow and the jubilation to the tragedy. Close friends become hated enemies. The guns and bloodshed of war are followed by the stillness of a temporary peace.

Our life is made up of seasons we need to be prepared for each season as it arrives. Let Wisdom-Trek be your guide to navigate through each season.

Internal Motivation

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Motivation

What is motivating you today? Do you ever suffer from the lack of motivation?

Although it may not be obvious at first, the lack of motivation many times stems from fear. Fear that we will fail. Fear of not knowing how to proceed. Fear of looking foolish. Fear that we are not as good as someone else. We start to see all of the obstacles that on our trail, and we are fearful to move forward because we are not sure how to overcome those obstacles. I still suffer from some of these thoughts, and I consider myself both optimistic and motivated most of the time. Some have called this the impostor syndrome, where we lack the motivation to move forward because we lack confidence.

To stay motivated, you need to have a burning passion and desire to succeed and reach your goals regardless of the obstacles on your trail of life. Henry Ford put it this way, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” You also need to have a plan in place to continue on as Proverbs 21:5 tells us, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” One of the biggest challenges in meeting any goal, whether it be related to productivity, waking early, changing a habit, exercising, or just becoming happier, is finding the motivation to stick with it. If you can stick with a goal for long enough, then there is a chance that it will become a habit. Once a habit is formed, then it becomes part of your normal routine of life. It just takes patience and persistence. Habitual motivation is the key, but creating motivation as a habit is not easy. As I have learned over the years, very few things in life are worth having if they are easily obtained.

Motivation is always an inside job. In other words, you must motivate yourself through an internal drive. All external motivation is temporary at best and usually completely non-effective. Internal motivation provides the catalyst to drive you on even when you don’t necessarily want to. There may be times, for example, when you don’t feel like getting up early to exercise, and in those times, you may seriously just want to sleep in. I find myself with those same feelings almost every morning. If you have a reason to want to get up early, something you desire strong enough, you will get up and pay the price now, so that you don’t have to pay a much larger price later.

Today, let the internal long-term desire for improvement be greater than the short-term gratification.  Allow that internal drive to fuel your passion to improve yourself, so that you can have a greater impact on those around you.  Your living legacy will depend on it.

Friendship In Proportion

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Friendship

Summer has arrived as of today and temperatures reflect the changing of the season. The weeks seem to rush by so quickly, and as fast as the seasons come and go, so does your life. That is why it is so crucial to live your legacy each day so that your life will have a significant impact on your world.

Summer is a time for picnics, swimming, camping, vacations, and family reunions.  You may find yourself around different groups of friends and family with their influences. Sometimes this can be good; other times, not so much.

The value of surrounding yourself with the right friends is immeasurably awesome. The danger of surrounding yourself with the wrong friends can be devastating. Perhaps a good theme might be “Friendship in proportion to the right personal growth from that friendship.” 

As my mentor Jim Rohn is quoted as saying, “You are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.” If this is in fact the case, then you need to analyze who you invest the most time with and how they are influencing you in any or all areas of life. If you do not like what you discover, then you need to begin the process of change. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you can change other people to be what you want them to be. It is difficult enough to change yourself and impossible to change others.

You may be able to positively impact others to change their mindset. But beware that it is a slow process, and they have to choose to change. You must be very careful if you choose to associate with those who may negatively impact you in any manner. As 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 

I feel strongly that this also applies to our mindset. You become what you dwell on in your minds. All of our minds are impacted significantly by those that we invest a lot of time with. Although it may be hard to distance yourself from negative influences, it is imperative. This does not mean you shun or alienate others, but realizing that anything that impacts you negatively should be minimized. It is your responsibility to maximize your God-given potential as Ephesians 5:15 tells us, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.”

Manifesting Motivation

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Motivation

Motivation and enthusiasm is manifested through your desire and interest and becomes a driving force that pushes you to take action and pursue goals. However, it often happens that you have the desire and interest, but you lack the motivation. This is a frustrating situation since you have goals and objectives that you would like to accomplish but cannot get enough inner strength and motivation to act.

Short spurts of enthusiasm or motivation are not enough to accomplish anything of value. You need to keep your desire and inner flame alive and focused on your goal. So what can you do about it?  Here are a few tips:

  • Devote 10 minutes a day to reading and thinking about the benefits of what you want to do or accomplish.
  • Every day read about people who achieved success by being consistent and persistent.
  • Every day, find a quiet place and for several minutes visualize yourself acting with enthusiasm and motivation.
  • Every success requires dedication, time, perseverance, and tenacity. Do not give up quickly.
  • Keep repeating affirmations that empower you and inflame your enthusiasm and motivation.
  • Never consider what you are doing as drudgery. Choose a mindset and attitude that you will enjoy the tasks at hand. If need be, tweak the process a little and make a few changes, and you can turn it into a pleasurable activity.
  • Once you decide about anything, go on with it, even after you lose enthusiasm and desire. Don’t give up even if what you are doing seems to be a burden and drudgery. Don’t give up even if you feel bored.
My hope is that as you listen to Wisdom-Trek that it motivates you to create and live your legacy each day.

Life Is Like a Bell

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Life

In our Wisdom Notes for today picture with me that we are heading out on our trail for another trek today.

We are making good progress over summits and through the valleys, past the meadows and the rivers. As we crest a hill, we hear from deep within the valley the distinct ringing of a church bell calling out to the people of the village that it is time to come, worship, and fellowship together. In today’s hectic and fast-paced world, we reflect fondly on a simpler time when we took the time to come together as a like-minded community.

Just like people, there are different kinds of bells. Church bells ring melodious while the trolley goes clang, clang, clang. There are cowbells, sleigh bells, schools bells, dinner bells, doorbells, and handbells. Probably one of the most famous bells is the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Paula and I had the privilege of visiting this past week as we were attending the Podcast Movement 2018 conference that was held in Philadelphia.

Bells have been an important part of my life. Growing up on the farm, we had a big train bell mounted on the back of the house which we could hear just about anywhere over the entire 100 acres. Mom would call us in from the orchard, the valley, or the lake for dinner or other important matters.

At The Big House, we have a large train bell mounted outside the back door that my granny always rang loud and long when family and friends were leaving after an extended stay as she waved and shouted goodbye. We still use it for that purpose today.

When our kids were still living at home, Paula had a different type of bell for each of the three floors –cowbell for the attic, a small dinner bell for the 2nd floor, and an electronic bell for the first floor.  The kids always knew which floor to come to based on the bell used. It sure saved a lot of shouting to round up the children.

This also reminds me that our lives are like a bell. Each bell was designed for a specific purpose. It can ring loud or soft, fast or slow, but it should always ring true based on the type of bell. One truth that is undeniable, though, is that you can never unring a bell.

The expression “You can’t unring the bell” has been frequently used in courts of law. Once an attorney makes a statement or presents evidence, jurors can’t “unring the bell” and un-hear what they heard or un-see what they saw. If the statement or evidence is later found to have been inadmissible, it could be grounds for a mistrial. “Unring a bell” has been cited in many legal decisions.

Politicians also know that they can’t “unring a bell” — statements and actions can’t be erased from the public’s mind. There are many idioms similar to “unring a bell,” such as “You can’t unscramble eggs” and “You can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.”

This is why it is so important that we always engage our brain, before we engage our mouth. Once a word is spoken, it cannot be unspoken. As Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.”

“Once a word is spoken, it cannot be unspoken.”

And also in Proverbs 10:11, we read, “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.”

The old axiom “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is just not true. Words can wound deeply, so be very careful of what you say and how you say it. Some people remember much longer than others, and when we are wounded, it is hard to forgive and forget, especially if it is an ongoing practice by the offender.

The book of Proverbs has so many verses about how we should and should not speak. The words that hurt the most are those that come from ones we love who should also love us.

Proverbs 11:9, “With their words, the godless destroy their friends…”

Proverbs 15:1, “Harsh words make tempers flare.”

Proverbs 15:4, “…the deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”

Encouraging words, on the other hand, can be a life giving force.

Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 18:20, “Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.”

Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

If you find yourself wishing that you could “unring the bell,” consider how much time you spend talking, for it says in Proverbs 10:19, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

“Remember that a closed mouth gathers no foot.”

While I am not a proponent of living in the past at all, the past should be a teaching tool for us. No, you can’t unring a bell, but the next time you “ring the bell,” make sure that its purpose is to help, encourage, and build others up.

If you find yourself the recipient of someone else’s thoughtless or cruel words, make sure that your bell continues to ring true.

We are encouraged in the 1st letter that the Apostle Peter wrote in Chapter 3 verses 9-11, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.  For the Scriptures say,’If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.'”

Regardless of what type of bell you are, serve that purpose faithfully and always ring true because you can never unring a bell.

“You can never unring a bell.” 

Now that you understand how life is like a bell, ring true each day on your trek of life. You have a purpose no one else can fill.Join us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy, and we will learn why life is like flying in a jet.