CHANGE THAT COUNTS

I used to say, “I sure hope things will change.” Then I learned that the only way things are going to change for me is when I change.- Jim Rohn

When planning successful goals, one thing is sure – if you achieve your goals you will change in the process. It seems strange that we all have goals we want to achieve, yet we hesitate to make the change that is necessary to achieve them. Maybe that’s why many of our goals are never met.

This excerpt from an article by Jim Rohn on ‘Change’ is worth sharing with you.

Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely observed, “The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves.” We created our circumstances by our past choices. We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives.

Keep these thoughts in mind, and as you plan your goals – plan on change. Remember that all change is not progress, but all progress is change.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!

THE CRISIS OF CHANGE

Unfortunately, it takes a crisis before most of us change. Sometimes we have to see what we don't want, to know what we do want. I experienced this during my battle with cancer; I didn't want to be a victim, I wanted to be a survivor. Many companies are experiencing this same crisis as they battle the current economic downturn.

So, how do we become survivors? The first step is to take control and responsibility for your own life and your own attitude. You create your life, one thought, one belief, one action, one choice at a time. You must also choose your vision of where you want to go. Every journey begins with a desire to go somewhere and do something and if you have a desire then you also have the power to make it happen.

Life is all about energy. Think about the people who increase your energy and those who drain you. Think about foods you eat that make you feel good and those that make you tired. Think about projects at work that energize you and those that burn you out. Everything is energy. It is found in our thoughts, the words we say, the music we listen to and the people we surround ourselves with.

You have probably experienced thinking about a friend and then suddenly they call. You may work with a colleague and each of you knew what the other was going to say next. Our thoughts are powerful because they are loaded with energy. When you identify what you desire and write down your vision, you begin the process of mobilizing the energy to create the life you want.

Complete these questions:

1. My vision for my life (including my health) is


2. My vision for my work, career, job and team is


3. My vision for my relationship and family is

Scripture says that "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). This truth applies to every aspect of our lives, our families and our companies. We must have a vision, then we must take responsibility for our actions and attitudes to achieve that vision.

Every crisis offers an opportunity to grow stronger and wiser; to reach deep within and discover a better you that will create a better outcome. So while we may be experiencing crisis, what matters most is what you do with it.

And that is another lesson.

Have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do!