Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 704 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Setbacks Are Not Stop Signs – Mindshift Monday

Thank you for joining us for our 5 days per week wisdom and legacy building podcast. This is Day 704 of our trek, and it is time for our Mindshift Monday series. Wisdom-Trek’s primary focus is to assist you in creating your living legacy. Creating your living legacy can only be accomplished by gaining wisdom in many areas of life. You can only gain wisdom by changing what you allow to go into your mind which is a result of changing the way you think.

In other words, to create your living legacy you must choose to be in a continual mode of Mindshift. It is easy to get stuck in a mindset that your current circumstances cannot be changed. This is not true, but you must understand this fundamental principle: In order to change your life, you must change how you think and what you think about. Our Mindshift Monday podcast and journal will provide you practical ways to make a mind-shift to a rich and satisfying life. 

We are broadcasting from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Life is like a rollercoaster; it has many ups and downs.

This past weekend we had the privilege to celebrate our granddaughter Hazel’s third birthday. We could not have imagined how drastically our lives would change during this past year. We did not know that Hazel would be diagnosed with Leukemia and her little body would be ravished by this unseen foe and the resultant treatments. We did not know that I would break my femur in a fall that would result in several months of rehab.

There are times when the unexpected erupts, and our lives change abruptly. It is interesting to observe how people cope with unexpected setbacks, especially when these events are so life-changing that it creates a radically different lifestyle. We have all had our share of setbacks and disappointments in life where our fondest hopes and dreams are completely uprooted. It is so important that during these times we are in a state of continual mindshift because…

Setbacks Are Not Stop Signs

Each difficult experience that we face is hard to take, sometimes even hard to grasp within our finite minds. Regardless of how difficult life’s trek is at times, it is not the end of the world, nor even the end of the trail that we are currently navigating.

Setbacks are only delays and detours. When our plans, hopes, and dreams are delayed, we have to have a mindshift and understand that what cannot be enjoyed today, may possibly be enjoyed later. Yes, we may have to reshuffle, or even radically change plans. Don’t lose sight of the destination, just because you are forced onto a different path.

Setbacks should be instructional. We can learn from every setback or detour on our trails of life. Valuable and rich lessons freely flow our way when our plans are denied or postponed.

Setbacks are not stop signs. There are times when evaluation is necessary in our lives. Perhaps the promotion that you were anticipating did not materialize. This may allow you to take a new path for your career. We need to remember that the path to joy and success is an uphill path which may be very difficult to hike at times.

Setbacks are times for adjustment. Too many times we so easily slide into the ruts of life. We become life robots just going through the motions, but not really living a rich and satisfying life. Some of life’s most rewarding times come when you are forced out of the ruts of life because of a setup or upheaval. It is during these times that we are forced to adjust our plans and look at life from a fresh perspective.

Setbacks allow for refocusing. When setbacks occur, it is good to take some time to analyze the reason for it, if it was under your control. If it was not under your control, it is a time to step back and incorporate this situation into your future planning.

Setbacks are pacesetters. Although the healing from the fracture of my femur is progressing well, it is still discouraging that I am still experiencing a good bit of pain. I still walk with a bit of a limp, and it may be a while before full mobility is possible. I have to realize though that the pain of the injury is setting the pace for my body to heal properly. With any setback, you may need to experience some type of pain so that your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being can become properly balanced for that path of life that you are currently hiking.

Setbacks are merely obstacles. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, life has not been all that easy. Thorns grow right beside beautiful roses. Weeds spring up in our gardens. Clouds hide the sunshine and setbacks clouds our days. Keep it in perspective. Remember that is life, and we need to capitalize on all experiences.

Setbacks are trail indicators. Setbacks sometimes indicate that even greater problems lie ahead if we continue on our path. Setbacks may indicate that we need to change our course, and take a new trail. Most important is how you react to these indicators. It will show what kind of person you are and will become as you continue on.

Setbacks are necessary. To become mature and complete, we need setbacks and trials in our lives. There is no possible way that the fruit of maturity can be in evidenced in your life without experiencing setbacks. James 1:2-4 tells us, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Setbacks are a test. The greatest test of your character is what it takes to stop you. The most noticeable difference between those who continue on and those who stop is seen in the area of perseverance. Everyone has setbacks. Every person faces obstacles on their trails of life. We must continue on regardless.

Setbacks are motivators. There are times on our trails of life when we become apathetic and listless with no motivation. Setbacks can arouse in us an eager desire to spring out of apathy into action.

Setbacks are eliminators. In our routines of life, we can get our eyes off what is most important. Just as it is important for a successful hiker to eliminate all dead weight, setbacks can help us to eliminate what is really not important in our lives.

Setbacks are normal. Setbacks don’t have a positive or negative impact in and of themselves. Our reaction towards setbacks will make them either positive or negative. Two people can experience that exact same setback with a totally different outcome.

Setbacks are part of life. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

Setbacks are no fun, but if we faithfully endure we will reap a bountiful harvest of blessings in our lives.

Setbacks are stepping-stones. If you desire to reach the summit of the mountain, you must use the stepping-stones of setbacks to reach the top. For some people, setbacks are stumbling stones, while for others the exact same stones become stepping-stones. As each stone appears along our trails of life to the summit, they either become a help or a hindrance, depending on how we handle each situation. We need to use our setbacks as stepping stones as we keep moving forward on our trails of life.

Next week we will continue our trek of Mindshift Monday. On tomorrow’s trek, we will explore another wisdom quote. This 3-minute wisdom supplement will assist you in becoming healthy, wealthy, and wise each day. Thank you for joining me on this trek called life. Encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you would like to listen to any of the past daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. You can also subscribe through iTunes or Google Play so that each day’s trek will be downloaded automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!