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Consider these 4 steps to start writing your story of significance.
1.Put Yourself In The Story – No one ever stumbles into significance – you have to be intentional in your daily action. Victor & Mildred Goertzel wrote a book Cradles of Eminence. They investigated the lives of 300 highly successful people. Here is what they found…
- Three-fourths of them came from severe poverty and broken home relationships
- Many of them experienced severe psychological drama being played in the home daily by their parents
- Over one-fourth suffered physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, and crippled limbs
- “To dare, is to lose one’s footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself” – Soren Kierkegaard
- If you are not in over your head, how do you know how tall you are? T.S. Eliot
2.Put Significance in Your Story – If you want to live a story of significance, do not wait until you become good – start now so you can become good. Everyone starts out bad regardless of what your are practicing for. We start however, so that we can become good.
- In the Orlando Science Center there was a sign that read “Experiment – Experience – Explore.” DO NOT TOUCH is not in the vocabulary of significant people! Awesome!
3.Put Your Strengths Into your Story – In answering the question, “What is required to bring about a positive life-change to any community? Jim Collins responded with these three statements:
- Can you be the best in the world at what you do? – Maybe or Maybe not! Can you be the best YOU in the world – ABSOLUTELY!
- Are you passionate about what you are doing? Significance begins in the heart when we desire to make a difference.
- Do you have the resources to change the world? Do you have the tools? You know doubt have many resources at your fingertips.
4. Stop Trying and Start Doing – “I’ll try my best” is a statement that we have all made at one point or another. What we are really saying is that I am going to try but I am not going to take responsibility for the outcomes. So here is the million dollar question: If we are going to live lives of significance are we going to succeed simply by trying? I don’t think so!
- Trying does not communicate true commitment. It is half-hearted at best. It definitely is not a pledge to achieve a goal. It is another way of saying that we will make an effort.
- An attitude of doing is powerful. Steven Pressfield writes, There is a force resisting the beautiful things in the world and too many of us are giving in.”
When you begin to get involved in making a difference in other people it is going to have a lasting impression and effect upon your life.
- Jim Rohn states one of the best places start to turn your life around is by doing whatever appears on your mental ‘I should” list.
- Action is what converts human dreams into significance.
- You will reaffirm your values – acting upon your values will clarify those values and make them permanent as a guiding priority.
- You will find your voice – taking action will give you confidence and you will begin to develop a moral authority with people.
- You will develop character – Passive people will allow their character to be shaped by others. Active people will take charge of their own character.
- You will experience an inner fulfillment – Contentment is found in being where you are supposed to be.
A butterfly cannot go back to being a caterpillar. When you start living a life of significance you will not go back!
LINKS
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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!
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