Walk On

Life can appear to throw curve balls at times. Conflict can emerge from the most unlikely quarters. Life can be tough.

But here's what I've learned...

It's in your paths' twists and turns, in the unexpected, the unplanned, the inconvenient and in the downright pain in the backside, that you will find grace and direction.  So embrace the God-shaped surprises that you stumble over; laugh with the angels as the next stepping stone seems to shift and stride out knowing that your Father has a plan.

It's at the edge of your comfort zone where God will meet you and where you'll see his hands at work.  So don't hesitate to go there and meet him and marvel at his works.

And take his word as your guide: His written words will sometimes act as a sword to pierce, cutting through unnecessary distractions.  Sometimes his written words will act as spears in the ground to set safe boundaries for you to find confidence as to how far you can go.  But always his written word will provide light for your paths, giving you direction.

So walk on.

SUCCESS IN 2017: STEP THREE

Over the last two weeks, we've looked at a structured approach to prioritising life choices, and started to build an action plan to change. I hope you've started to experience a greater sense of vision, control and achievement...but we've barely scratched the surface of true, lasting success.

It's good to create a to-do list, and it needs to be supported by an attitude that turns those one-off actions into natural habits. So let's set to work on that.

Who are you?

We're bombarded every day by messages telling us to conform to other people's view of what good looks like. That might mean having a body that's a certain shape, earning a particular amount of money, living in a certain place, wearing certain clothes...

A lot of dissatisfaction in life comes from putting expectations on ourselves to be someone that we're simply not. The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this world" (Romans 12:2), and Oscar Wilde said:

Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.

So let me encourage you to do two things:

1. Ask yourself who you really are - what you're really like - and how people try to make you be someone different. Now, resolve to simply be yourself.
2. Write down a list of life experiences that have made you who you are today - good and bad. Now, accept that you can't go back in time and change them. You are who you are, and where you are, today, because of them.

What can you change?

Over the last couple of weeks, I've written a lot about things you can do to make a difference. And I expect you've thought at some point: "I can't change [enter your own circumstances here]."

Our lives are affected by the decisions of others, including our bosses, friends, family, politicians, and simple circumstances. And we can't change a lot of that. If there won't be a chance to be promoted until your boss quits, there's nothing you can do about that!

Your satisfaction will increase when you properly realise that you can't change everything.

And here's some even better news...there are some things that you definitely can change. What are those things you've always said that other people do that you can't? What would happen if you realised you could?

Maybe it's waking up half an hour earlier every day to learn a new skill, or a language, or to pray, or to read the Bible? Maybe it's building a budget...and sticking to it!

You will see greater success when you properly realise that you can change some things.

So we've looked at understanding and prioritising the most important areas of life, we've looked at our daily thoughts and rituals, and now we've looked at the attitudes that underpin those. Next week, we're going to take it to the next level, by taking proper ownership of our own lives.

SUCCESS IN 2017: STEP TWO

While we're still in January, I thought it would be helpful for us all to walk through a life assessment and action plan together. I wrote last week about the five life indicators of health, relationships, vocation, emotions and lifestyle - if you've not read that yet, I'd recommend starting there first.

This week, we're going to dig a bit deeper.

Question 1: which of the life indicators is most important to you?

During last week's exercise, which of the five stood out to you the most? What got you the most excited or frustrated? Which matters the most?

Now, what decisions do you need to make to prioritise that area over the others?

Question 2: what is your thought trajectory?

This may take a while, because I'd like you to think about what you think about. What thoughts do you find yourself thinking most often? When you're thinking about yourself, are your thoughts along the lines of "you should do better", or "you can do it!"? What false or unsubstantiated thoughts do you find yourself thinking the most? What thoughts would you like to think more often - and how could you make that happen?

Question 3: what is your ritual trajectory?

A lot of people don't like the word ritual, but it just means repeated behaviour. What sort of thing do you find yourself doing most often? What takes up your time on your commute, or at weekends? What do you do first thing in the morning and last thing at night?

Now, if you continue with those rituals, where will they lead you? Will they make you a better person? Or are they pointless wastes of time? What could you change about those rituals?

Next steps...

We spent last and this week looking at what could change in our lives, and hopefully by now we all have good, measurable to-do lists that we're starting to tick off...but life isn't as simple as a checklist.

Next week, we're going to pick up on those areas that we can't change, because life is bigger than constant activity!

DISCOUNTED: HOW TO DEAL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

I work in a large firm.

3,000ish staff.

I've been here for 21 years now, which regularly raises eyebrows. Is it lack of imagination or perhaps lack of ambition on my part? Neither, I just enjoy my work.

But I need to watch myself, make sure I'm not limiting my options.

I'm conscious that sometimes it's all too easy to look on at colleagues who've made a successful career move and discount myself from a similar move.

Is it just the risks involved with moving that have made me decide that it isn't for me?

(One of my former colleagues is now acting CEO here, another is 'vice-president' at a big bank.)

When opportunities come up at the office, I find myself wondering: Is it a career-limiting task that'll set me up for a fall? Or is it a chance to break out of a rut?

When I have a chance to move on, I ask myself: Is it just that the grass tends to look greener or is this the opportunity of a lifetime?

Sometimes the offer of change comes from a long respected colleague, and so the trust they show in my abilities (which far exceeds my own) is enough to prompt me to take the plunge.

---

I'm challenged by the decisions that the first disciples of Jesus took when faced with change.  He asked them to uproot from their established career choices and to trust him to lead them on a more worthwhile (but untested) path.

Here's what I imagine might have gone on in one of the young disciples' heads at this crossroads.

'His father must be WELL pleased.
What dad wouldn't be? He's learned a trade, been good to his mum, and remembered what his dad taught him: Treat everyone with respect. 
He's got a good 'ed on his shoulders, does Jesus. Always did. Caused him a little trouble in his younger days mind; other kids didn't know how to take him. But his good nature won out; he was well liked by those who got to know 'im. A solid bloke.
And now he's off on his new venture. It's good to take risks every now and then, get out yer comfort zone, cut off the old apron strings. 
He'll need some good people around him mind, guys he can trust. You know what I mean - solid, with the right attitude. I mean, stands to reason someone with 'is vision won't wanna take on any old Tom, Dick or 'arry. He's got his reputation to think of. 
I wish him well, losing his step dad early like that, guy deserves some better days.

'Ere he is now, "Nice to see yer, squire...
-
"Wassat you say? Who, me? No mate, you're 'aving a laugh.  I'm not your entrepreneurial type. Got family commitments, my dad's business. I know it's not much, but it's...
-
"Really? You sure? ...
- 
"Course I trust your judgement, it's just a little unexpected...
- 
"Well in that case, it'll be an 'onour, sir.  Lead the way.  
"By the way, can my bruvver come?" 

Ring any bells?

When you are faced with life changing decisions, how do you respond?

• Do you consider the benefits or the costs first? What wins out?

• Do you have someone you can trust to help you decide?

Try Jesus, his judgement can be trusted.