“When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
- Viktor Frankl
As I mentioned in a previous post, my school will be implementing The Leader in Me program next year. The Leader in Me teaches children how to become leaders of themselves and others. It is a very powerful process.
As part of the implementation phase, all teachers are being trained in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. Today was day 1 of the 3-day training.
Although we completed several powerful activities throughout the day, the idea that resonated with me more than the others is habit 1: Be Proactive.
Being proactive is all about living an intentional life. The principle behind this habit is that we are free to choose and we are responsible for our choices. Do you believe this?
Too many of us sleepwalk through life doing today what we did yesterday. Living an intentional life is about forgetting past mistakes and regrets and proactively choosing how to live moving forward.
How can you begin living an intentional life today?
- Decide what is most important to you and start living your life as if you believed it.
- Stop blaming others for your circumstances.
- Take time to map a plan for your life. Yes, it is hard work, but if you don’t do it, who will?
- Focus on things that you can control. Don’t spend your time on things that you cannot control.
- Commit to something…anything, really! Commitment is the pinnacle of a proactive life.
Allow this quote by Anthony Campolo to resonate through your soul and speak to you as you focus on living a proactive life:
“What you commit yourself to will change what you are and make you into a completely different person. The future conditions you, not the past. What you commit yourself to become, determines what you are - more than anything that ever happened to you yesterday. Therefore, I ask you, ‘What are your commitments? Where are you going? What are you going to be?’ Show me somebody who hasn’t decided, and I’ll show you somebody who has no identity, no personality, no direction.”
Please…live an intentional life! You have too much to offer – it’s very important.
Now – go do something intentional! Hurry!
8 comments:
I went through 7 habits quite a few years ago, but just kind of blew it off. I keep meaning to go back re-read now that I have grown-up. I look forward to reading more posts about it from you. Thanks
Jason, the one new year's resolution I made this year was to be more intentional with my time, so I can relate to this post! Good stuff.
Brent & Chris,
Thanks for the comments. Brent, we just finished day 2 of the training. Awesome stuff - I've really been challenged to think about these principles. Chris, I just like the idea of intentional living. Makes me happy! Thanks for the support, guys!
Have been doing some life planning this week. This post nudges me in that direction.Thanx Jason.
Chennai, India
Beulah,
Thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed!
Great thougts. An intentional life is a life that leaves its mark on those around them. I highly recommend Max Lucado's book - Outlive Your Live.
I've read "Outlive Your Life." Probably my favorite Max Lucado book - and I like a lot of his books.
Outlive your Life. I have been meaning to get my hands on a copy. Looks like a trip to thenook book store is in order.
b_schebs
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