ENGAGING THOUGHT
Do you have a life motto? I do. It's a Latin phrase that I like to impress people with - it makes me sound really smart and high-brow. It looks like this:
In fact, we are far more effective in just about anything we undertake when we approach it with consistent, steady effort rather than hitting it with bursts of energy or attention. That is, of course, the whole theory behind the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge: that we accomplish far more forward motion toward fulfilling God's DREAM for our life when we give it just a little bit of daily attention and effort. If we were to wait until we had all the time necessary in one span of time or season of our life - well, we'd be waiting forever and never get around to pursuing the DREAM, right?
Recognizing the blessing of consistency helps us as we make progress - even through the oftentimes boring parts (more on that tomorrow). Let's use another analogy from the sports-world: think of an Olympic figure-skater. We know the tremendous sacrifices she must make daily in order to compete at that level - the things she must deny herself, the pain and agony she must physically endure - all of it pointing toward those few moments as the world watches her grace and beauty and artistry. Here's the reality behind her moment in the spotlight: no single work-out put her there. No one instance of climbing out of her warm bed at O'Dark-Aweful in the morning to hit the ice got her into that kind of shape. It was every single work-out; it was every single morning that affords her the possibility of feeling that medal being placed around her neck. Because she chose to be consistent in her efforts she gets to enjoy the blessing.
Knowing this won't make the "workouts" any easier for us in our pursuit - but it does put into perspective that when we choose consistency we allow for that kind of growth and development and forward progress that might cause us to one day look up and realize just how far we've come and how much closer we are to the DREAM becoming a reality in our lives.
...drip...drip...drip...
Gutta Cavat Lapidem Non Vi Sed Saepe Cadendo.Are you impressed yet? Maybe if I told you the meaning it would inspire you as much as it does me. Are you ready for it?
"The drip hollows the stone, not by force, but by repeatedly falling."I can tell you're impressed and inspired. In all seriousness, however, this is the phrase I repeat to myself every day - and several times throughout any given day. It reminds me that if I focus upon being consistent in the things I do I need not worry whether any single thing I do be all that monumental.
In fact, we are far more effective in just about anything we undertake when we approach it with consistent, steady effort rather than hitting it with bursts of energy or attention. That is, of course, the whole theory behind the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge: that we accomplish far more forward motion toward fulfilling God's DREAM for our life when we give it just a little bit of daily attention and effort. If we were to wait until we had all the time necessary in one span of time or season of our life - well, we'd be waiting forever and never get around to pursuing the DREAM, right?
Recognizing the blessing of consistency helps us as we make progress - even through the oftentimes boring parts (more on that tomorrow). Let's use another analogy from the sports-world: think of an Olympic figure-skater. We know the tremendous sacrifices she must make daily in order to compete at that level - the things she must deny herself, the pain and agony she must physically endure - all of it pointing toward those few moments as the world watches her grace and beauty and artistry. Here's the reality behind her moment in the spotlight: no single work-out put her there. No one instance of climbing out of her warm bed at O'Dark-Aweful in the morning to hit the ice got her into that kind of shape. It was every single work-out; it was every single morning that affords her the possibility of feeling that medal being placed around her neck. Because she chose to be consistent in her efforts she gets to enjoy the blessing.
Knowing this won't make the "workouts" any easier for us in our pursuit - but it does put into perspective that when we choose consistency we allow for that kind of growth and development and forward progress that might cause us to one day look up and realize just how far we've come and how much closer we are to the DREAM becoming a reality in our lives.
...drip...drip...drip...
ACTION STEP
Today's ACTION STEP is a tough one to limit to just today. In fact, I don't want you to limit it to today, at all. I want you to do it many times on many different days.
Take the time you've normally set aside for doing the ACTION STEPS throughout the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge and instead work on whatever your current task is in your DREAM-pursuit. Think of it as a bit of bonus time.
What might happen if you were to do that regularly? You should have regularly-scheduled and prioritized time dedicated to your DREAM-pursuit, but what if you used the unexpected times on your DREAM-pursuit, as well? What if you developed a habit of consistently using these unexpected bonus-times?
Take the time you've normally set aside for doing the ACTION STEPS throughout the 60 Days of Dreaming challenge and instead work on whatever your current task is in your DREAM-pursuit. Think of it as a bit of bonus time.
What might happen if you were to do that regularly? You should have regularly-scheduled and prioritized time dedicated to your DREAM-pursuit, but what if you used the unexpected times on your DREAM-pursuit, as well? What if you developed a habit of consistently using these unexpected bonus-times?
Tomorrow we'll bravely stare down the monster called "Drudgery" and remind ourselves that we need not be afraid of it.
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