Better Choices

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Whether it is what is happening with the details of Lindsay Lohan’s life, or the allegations concerning Herman Cain, the fact is, we have all made bad choices we wish we could take back, but today is a new day…and its time to make better choices.

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels” ~ Anonymous

It’s choices that determine how much money you make, your career, whether you realize your dreams, who you date, how much weight you lose or gain, and so forth. Unfortunately, no matter what our education, society doesn’t always do a great job teaching us how to make good choices. We rarely learn a decision-making process we can implement repeatedly, no matter the topic. Here’s five things to consider before you go forward on any project or decision:

1. Get my mind in a good place.

2. Get my spirit in a good place.

3. Have I checked my plans with smart people?

4. Do my plans coincide with God’s plans for my life?

5. How will this choice make me feel in the future?

This is what God says,
the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
they lie down and then can’t get up;
they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me.”

Isaiah 43:16-21 (MSG)

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Birthday Reflections

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My birthday is tomorrow. I know, I know…birthdays have a funny way of making you take a look at yourself, your life path and the relationships along the way. Here are few tips on handling self-reflection in a healthy manner.

The List

Make a list of goals or dreams that you want to accomplish in your life. Now make a list of things you have already done. Most of us only focus on what we haven’t done yet, not what we have done well so far. Balance is key in reflecting and moving forward. Focusing on the future, but being motivated by the past, is ideal. Everyone has done at least one beneficial thing in their past, although some of us may have to think real hard to remember.

Celebrate

Celebrating is healthy, not only the good choices, but acknowledging what you have learned from your “not so good” choices. Celebrating the good, the bad and the ugly, not to justify it, but to celebrate the journey. It is a great way to live life with your eyes wide open. Being aware of your mistakes and your successes is necessary for achieving the goals and dreams you wrote on your first list.

Setting Concrete Goals

Soyou have your lists, you are aware of your life so far…now it’s time to set some goals. When you set goals, don’t just write down the big idea, but dig deep and consider the milestones you must successfully achieve to accomplish the big goal. Here’s an example…if someone wanted to be the CEO of a big company, they must first accomplish some milestones before they get there. Maybe starting with a degree, learning everything they can about business, learning to be a leader, maybe even dressing the part. It may take you starting in the mailroom, it may require shaving the beard and buying a suit. These are practical milestones that are necessary for achieving your goal of being the CEO of a large company.

Take a Deep Breath

You have looked at your life thus far, you have your list, you’ve set your goals, you’ve considered the milestones…okay okay, now take a deep breath and blow out your candles. Enjoy the moment. Surround yourself with family or friends that will support you in reaching your goals. Eat cake (or pie).

You don’t have to wait until your birthday to reflect. You can start today. Many of you have taken advantage of our DreamMakers club to motivate you and give some direction towards achieving your goals. Whatever you do…don’t let another day go by just doing the same old thing…living the same tired life. It’s time to stretch, reach and achieve.

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