Like the empty container shown in the video, we are called to do great things. It may seem so huge that even with our very best we can only fill so much. When we trust and rely on God's strength rather than our own we see that we (You + God) are more than enough, because You + God is a Majority!
Exercise excellence, being consistent in doing your best. If you’re not careful, it is easy to get excellence and being perfect confused. It’s good to set high standards, but perfection will only frustrate you.
Think of it this way, you may do your best, but there always is a little something that can be added. I think of a professor giving a lecture on his jar being full. He filled it ping pong balls. No other ping pong balls could fit. He asked the class if it was full, and they said yes. Then he pulled out jelly beans. The beans dropped right in, filling the big gaps the balls left. He asked again if it was full, and of course they all agreed. So he pulled out a bag of sand and filled it even more…
Even when we have reached the place of perfection, something can be added. Excellence calls for you to do your best, and meet the standard you have set for yourself. Maintaining that standard will help you to shine as the best version of yourself for all to see!
Going into this new year I want us all to strive for excellence. Do not confuse this with perfection, because there will always be room for improvement.
To really make an impact with your ikigai is to really give what you doing your all. “Is this the best you can do?” is a little reminder for me of a story of someone submitting an article to Henry Kissinger. He sent it back with a note that said, “Is this the best you can do?”. The author of the article thought it was rude, and begrudgingly reworded the article and sent it again. Kissinger again sent it back to him, with the same note, “Is this the best you can do?” Really frustrated and upset, the author rewrote the entire article, and submitted it with the note, “I have redone the entire article, and this is the absolute best I can do.” Kissinger sent a note back saying, “Good, this time I’ll read it.”
People want the best from you. That is the standard of what they are judging you by. If you give a mediocre presentation of what you have to offer, many will assume that is the best you can do. It may not be perfect, but your best is everything that anyone could ask for.
So this year, let’s give it all we got.
Today we are creating a working Done / Doing List for the new year.
The "Done" part of the list are the things God has brought us through, accomplishments large and small. The "Doing" side of the list are the things we are setting out to do. As we do them, we move them to the "Done" side, and add more things to the "Doing" side, so it is a working list.
Let's do great things in 2022!
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3 NIV
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Proverbs 16:9 NIV
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MOST OF THE THINGS WORTH DOING IN THE WORLD HAD BEEN DECLARED IMPOSSIBLE BEFORE THEY WERE DONE. - Louis Brandeis
What is it that you are working on that is worth doing? What is that thing that is so worthy of your time, sweat, and tears?
Is there something urging you to press on? To move forward? That thought or idea that will not let you go? It may be your greatness calling you out to fulfill your calling or purpose. It may be your ikigai pushing you to a fuller life than what you are currently experiencing.
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“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Today’s prompt comes with a quote:
“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been” - Diane Arbus
Where can go today? I live in a small town so there aren’t many places I haven’t been, but new things open all the time, so today I’m going to a new place for lunch.
Along with that, there are new things I want to try, experience and learn, so do not be afraid to sit down and research. Set aside some time to move from just wanting to know about something to the reality of having done some research on the subject.
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“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”
Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV
This was the prompt for today. I asked God for wisdom and understanding. In my mind we sat down in the garden, and a strong breeze blew through the trees. I the feeling was great, and the sight of the trees moving as if they were dancing was beautiful! I looked up and the clouds moving quickly across the sky was also amazing, I felt like a kid laying on a hill looking up and trying to figure out what each cloud was shaped like. What a wonderful feeling of nothingness.
I understood. I felt great, but I also did not want to do anything, be anything, nor be anywhere. Just sit there. This is what the comfort zone is. We often have to fight to stay in this place. God is constantly moving, and is moving us from place to place also. Do you know what happens if the shepherd does not move the sheep from pasture? Physically, not moving is bad for the body. It is also bad for the land. Moving gives the land time to heal it self so it can support them the next time they are there.
I still feel good from the rest, but bad I wanted to stay longer and not do anything.
So what is your action item for today?
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Yesterday we touched on the fear of losing, and there is nothing wrong with that. We get knocked down sometimes, or maybe even a lot. Every time you get back up, it is the start of a new win! As the quote said yesterday, “Every time you win, it diminishes fear a little bit”.
Muhammad Ali put it this way, “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong!” Look at you today. You made it this far. You’ve had some setbacks, but you are here, with a purpose, and even if you get knocked down, push through to accomplish the vision set before you.
Can you think of an instance where life knocked you down, but you push through? (And you are still here!) Knowing you were able to make it through, how do you feel looking back on it? I hope you are proud of yourself!
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One of my coaches long ago said, “Action is the antidote to fear”. This has always stuck with me because I had to prove it as a false statement or a permanent practice.
The journal prompt today deals fear too. The quote is from Authur Ashe and it reads, “Every time you win, it diminishes fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.”
What’s a fear you feel you need to go ahead and get over?
What can you do to challenge it today?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
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Challenge yourself:
Let’s grow! We can challenge ourselves to be and do better by taking small steps outside of our comfort zones!
Today’s challenge:
When two paths come before you, choose the harder one! What’s the hard thing you’re going to do today?
