We all make mistakes. When we do, it is easy for those mistakes to steal attention and focus. We become fixated on them. We get stuck. We want to evaluate, analyze, and fix our mistakes right away. However, I argue that it is best to save analysis until later.
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act but a habit.”
This quote from Aristotle is one of my favorites. Habits form the foundations for how we live, work and play. Whether or not we’re intentional about them, our habits shape who we are becoming. Where are your habits leading you?
Are you satisfied with your sleep? If not, you’re not alone. Over 50 million Americans suffer from a sleep related disorder. A survey by the National Institute of Health found that nearly 30% of adults are getting 6 or fewer hours of sleep per night. We get less sleep today than ever before.
Do you feel satisfied in the progress you’re making on your goals? Like many of you, each new year I set my sights on next steps, progress, growth and achievements. I set BIG, scary goals. However, setting goals isn’t the hard part. Following through is.
Only 46% of Americans who set goals at the beginning of the year make it past 6 months. Establishing a goal review process can greatly increase your chances of following through on those lofty intentions.
No one sets a goal to pursue a life of mediocrity. Yet many of us find ourselves on the path of least resistance, whether we meant to be or not. Then we find ourselves searching for meaning, fulfillment, growth and impact, but not finding them. That’s because we’re on the wrong path. We need to move from a life of mediocrity to a life of stewardship.
I have friends that are superhuman. They are always on the go, have a new project in the works and accomplish far more than I do in 24 hours. Does this describe someone you know?
You wonder how they never burn out. You ask yourself, “Do they ever stop to rest?” Might it be that you aren’t getting the whole story? What truly allows them to be at their best, display excellence and stay energized?
Why is it that only 8% of people fulfill their New Year’s Resolutions? Recent research on willpower sheds light on why we struggle. More importantly, it also points us to one profound tactic that can help us take control, follow-through and actually achieve our goals.
Lou Holtz said, “I can’t believe that God put us on this earth to be ordinary.” And I agree with him. We, all human beings, were created to live a life of excellence.
Contrary to Abraham Maslow’s “psychopathology of the average,” we weren’t created to drift along the path of least resistance, lulling ourselves into meaningless toil. We were created to build, do, create and make an impact in the world around us.
If Earl Nightingale was right that “success is the progressive realization of a worthy goal,” where does that leave me? As I look back over the goals I set for 2014, I see that I won some and I lost some. How about you?
Generosity encircles us throughout the Christmas season. This may not be evident while jockeying for position at checkout lines with other shoppers. However, Christmas reminds us of God’s generosity in sending Jesus to heal our brokenness and, in response, compel our generosity towards one another. The Christmas season brings a rise in charitable giving and volunteering. We eagerly search for wonderful gifts for our loved ones. There is just something special about Christmas.
