Over the past week I shared these initial reactions on the Coronavirus: Decide to Change Forever Essential and Extra What Is God’s Will For My Life? A Better Response Now that we are in lockdown for another month, I plan to write a series of posts on the following themes: Listen – This continues to be a season of slowing down for many. The opportunity to be still and know God is God is huge. I hope to give little bits of encouragement as you pursue Jesus on a daily basis. If we can all silence our fears and focus on God, great things will happen. May you find opportunities…
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Coronavirus 4: A Better Response
It is said that you cannot choose what happens in life. You can only choose how to respond. The temptation when interruptions, inconveniences and tragedies strike is to spiral downward. This is one choice. We can choose to think negatively. We can be afraid. Or we can go in the other direction. We can choose to think positively. We can choose a more productive route. The one question that helps me gain momentum in the path of good is when I ask myself… What does this make possible? This is one of my favorite questions. As a coach, it is the most important question for me to ask, in most…
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Coronavirus 3: What Is God’s Will For My Life?
If you are like a lot of people, this season is causing a lot of chaos in your life, particularly around your work. It is interesting. In some ways we have less to do. In other ways, the work can seem overwhelming. You may be struggling with identity questions. It may start with “What am I going to do?” Later it turns into “Who am I?” The lack of security in your work can lead to a struggle for purpose. Then you come to the big question! God, what is your will for my life? If you are a person of faith, this can be a necessary question. You need…
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Coronavirus 2: Essential and Extra
One of the side-effects of the current lockdown is that a lot of things have been removed from my life. Some of these things I miss. Some I do not. Some I don’t even notice they are gone. This has caused me to look at what is truly important in life. I’m asking myself, “What is essential?” and “What is extra?” Essential are all the things, people, opportunities I really want. They are the things that are a priority for me. However, often they are not urgent, so they drop to the wayside. Extra are all the other things that are not essential. They are not bad…or good. They are…
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Coronavirus 1: Decide to Change Forever
As we continue our second (for some their third) week on lockdown, life has been turned upside down by the coronavirus. Your world has been completely interrupted. You just want it to all be over. It is still unclear when normal life will return, however. So, what do we do? How do we plan? How do we move on? The coronavirus has done something unique in the history of the world. Never before has every nation on the planet been captivated by the same thing at the same time. This is truly amazing. During this continued interruption into our lives, the temptation is to want life back to normal. There…
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2 Questions to Identify Your Work That Matters
Remember, you can choose to do work that matters. Once you have chosen to make this essential in your life, rather than just an extra, you will need to identify your work that matters. Two questions can help you on this journey, whether you are at the beginning or in a time of transition. If money were no object, what would you do? This may be one you have heard before. It is popular and somewhat cliche, but it is also true. Money often times clouds our judgement. Really sitting down and considering this question can help you identify passions and opportunities just right for you. What makes you angry?…
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Choose Work That Matters
Most people spend their entire life never doing work that matters. They hate their job. It may provide for them, but it is lacking in at least three areas: It is not their passion. It keeps them so busy they cannot pursue their passion. It does not allow them to make a difference in the world. It is possible to do work you love. It is possible to be passionate about your job. You can do something that changes the world. It is a choice. Most people believe this is an extra rather than essential. Spend some time watching people who are not passionate about their work. See how this…
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A Poem to Patrick: Were You Afraid?
Perhaps you had heard of them.Those fierce warriors, strong and mighty.Those pagan slave traders, feared by all. Oh yes, you knew of the Irish!Before your life with them really began, were you afraid? Perhaps you had been having a normal day.You probably spent time with loved ones. You did not pray that day, for God was not a big part of your life.Everything was about to change!On that frightful night when they took you, were you afraid? Perhaps you would yet live. Now you were a slave, a mere shepherd boy.Now you began to pray, as you said goodbye to your former life.Your faith grew and grew over those cold,…
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Plan a Quarterly Offsite
Can you believe it? The first quarter is almost over. How are you doing with your New Years Resolutions? That is okay. I do not do well with those either. This is why I do a Quarterly Offsite to refocus, rest and set goals. Now is a great time to plan your Quarterly Offsite. If possible, get away for a night. Spend some time evaluating the previous quarter. Then focus on the next one. What do you want to accomplish? Who is going to be a priority for you? What is really important? Do not forget to have fun, rest and relax as well. The goal should be for your…
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Becoming a Reader: 3 Phrases Readers Don’t Use
Over the past year, I have taken some significant strides forward in my desire to become a reader. Perhaps I’ll share the reasons for this change later. As I’ve made the switch, I have found there are three phrases that have been part of my vocabulary, even part of my identity, for too long. These phrases have held me back in my desire to be a reader and to be a better reader. They have inhibited my love of learning and ability to grow as a person. Well, it is time to let them go. Here they are, along with some alternatives. 1) “I’m not a reader.” Seems obvious, but…
