“The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming. You cannot believe what it does to the human spirit to maximize your human potential and stretch yourself to the limit.” -Jim Rohn

I recently read that John Maxwell would make it mandatory for his staff members to change jobs and get new responsibilities every three years, so they would never have time to become comfortable where they are at, and they would always be growing. That really stuck with me. I never want to become stagnant. I never want to coast. I want to become all I am capable of becoming in my lifetime. Don’t you?

Although I am only 26 years old, I have noticed that is so easy for people to get comfortable where they are in life and never strive to go to another level, never strive to get better, never learn any new skills, never risk, never pursue new opportunities, and never develop personally. It’s sad. I know because I have been there. I’ve let myself stay in places too long. I allowed myself to go through seasons of life where I didn’t grow at all. I’m determined to not let that happen again!

I’ve found that we avoid new opportunities for growth and stay where we’re at because:

• We’re afraid to try new things
• We like the security of where we are at (we know we can handle it)
• We’re afraid of failure, we don’t think we’re capable.
• We like the way our life is now
• People have told us we couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t…
• We think we’re doing better than we are

All of these are excuses that hold people back from being challenged and developing to their full potential. The question you need to ask in spite of these excuses is, “Why wouldn’t I want to become everything that I am capable of becoming? Why wouldn’t I want to go to another level?

If we’re going to reach our full potential, then we will always need to make sure we’re being challenged & stretched. With this in mind, ask yourself the following questions about every area of your life (i.e. marriage, finances, career, walk with God, etc.):

• When was the last time I was challenged to grow?
• Do I feel comfortable where I’m at or am I growing?
• When was the last time I tried something for the first time?
• What new skills have I learned in the past 12 months?
• What is holding me back from going to another level?
• What can I do to go to another level? Do I need to look for more responsibility at work? Do I need a new job?

Of course, God plays into this equation. If God has called you somewhere, then until He leads you to go somewhere else, you should stay, but asking yourself these questions will help you process what God is leading you to do.

If you haven’t been challenged lately, perhaps it’s time you intentionally challenge yourself to go to another level, and be willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

Thoughts?

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out.” ~Jim Rohn 

Jim’s definition of philosophy is, “The sum total of all that you know and what you decide is valuable.” Your philosophy affects every area of your life. It effects how you view your past, how you view your current circumstances, how you view your future, who you’ll date, who you will marry, how much money you will make, how much confidence you have, how nice of a house you’ll live in, etc.

My question for you is: How is your personal philosophy working out for you so far? 

Do you like where you are in life? Do you have great relationships? Are you making enough money? Are you doing what you love? Are you growing? Are you headed somewhere worth going?

Look around at the people closest to you. Odds are you have similar life philosophies. Who are the people you look up to? All of these things impact the way our lives will play out.

Our personal philosophies have been shaped by everything that has influenced us in life. Teachers, family members, pastors, books, music, the culture, and anything that we have allowed ourselves to be influenced by.

Our philosophies are being shaped and developed daily. The big question is, who and what are you allowing to shape yours? If you would have asked me 9 years ago, what I was allowing to shape mine, I would have told you, music, my friends, and the entire drugs and alcohol culture. I was headed nowhere, I was depressed, and miserable.

Then I started recognizing the importance of building a personal philosophy that would lead me to a successful life. Today, I allow God’s Word, the Bible, to be the number one influence on my personal philosophy. Second, I am constantly reading books and listening to podcasts about God, success, business, and leadership to help develop my personal philosophy. The more I allow these things to develop me philosophy, the happier and more successful I find myself to be.

If you don’t like where you are in life or the direction your headed in life, it can turn around by simply changing your personal philosophy. Jim Rohnsaid, “Only human beings can reorder their lives any day they choose by refining their philosophy.”

What has and is currently shaping your view on: God, family, making money, your career, your friends, and your values? What influences do you need to cut off from your life? What influences do you need to start putting into your life?

Change your philosophy = Change The Outcome of Your Life Forever

“Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” Malachi 3:18

Does it matter if you serve God or not?
Does serving God matter when you’re going through tough times?
Does serving God matter when you’re selecting a spouse?
Does serving God matter when you’re raising your kids? 
Does serving God matter when you’ve experienced something horrifying in your life?

When I lost my mom as a senior in high school, choosing to go after God mattered more than I could ever have imagined. That single decision changed my life forever.

When I was single and dreamed of having an amazing wife one day, it mattered a lot that I lived for God and built my life on His Word. Had I not been living for God, I would have never been able to marry Laura one day.

When I had no clue what my purpose in life was and I thought I had no future, it mattered a lot that I could seek God about all of those things.

When I was addicted to drinking and drugs, it mattered that I pursued God to get free from those things.

The older I get and the more I grow in my relationship with God, the more I realize how important it is to live for God. In fact, the more I grow, the more I can see a difference between someone who serves God with all of their heart and someone who refuses to have anything to do with Him.

I have found that in the beginning, when someone starts a relationship with God, their life doesn’t look much different from the life of someone who doesn’t live for God. However, over time, the difference between someone who serves God and someone who doesn’t becomes almost incomparable.

Living for God matters more than you could ever imagine.

But you have to discover that for yourself. You have to have your own relationship with Him. You can’t just say you know it matters because your parents told you that, because you heard it in church a lot, or someone you admire believes that. It has to become a reality in your life.

You have to make the choice that you are going to live for God, no matter what. Once you make that decision, and start pursuing a relationship with Him, you will find out how much it matters.

If you are a mature Christian and it may be easy for you to recognize that difference . . . don’t become arrogant, because the only difference between you and the other person, is God.

If you’re someone who has never really cared about God, and you see mature Christians that you would love to be like, but you think it will take you forever, stop thinking that. God can turn your life around overnight.

Living for God matters. Don’t go another day without Him.