Name Your Giants

"You're being a chicken if you keep running away from your Goliath." - Goliath Is Calling

Why do you see the negative side of your life so clearly? The times of joy and success seem so far and few between. It's almost if they were flukes. Do you want to change that? It can be changed. You can achieve more success in your life, more often.

There's one thing that you gotta do for yourself if you're to achieve success, though. You must stop running. The way to success presents risks, challenges, and sacrifices.

They come in many forms and they don't wear name badges for easy recognition. ( That would be nice, wouldn't it? ) Up until now they seemed to have only one goal: stop you at all costs.

And, they've succeeded, haven't they? They've made you run. You've been doing it for so long that you should be competing for the Olympics.

Running.
Running.
Running.

How did that become so easy? Were you a scarey child? Don't you remember being brave... in your own sort of way, at least.

Remember that time when Dad had to go out of town for work for a while and he said that you were the man of the house while he was gone? Yeah, you were brave then, right? All the way up til that first thunderstorm.

Oh, then there was that time when you wanted to ask that pretty girl out. The one you saw with her girlfriends at the park. You mustered up the courage to walk up to her. You gave her you best lines. The ones you'd be preparing for just an occasion. And, she promptly laughed in your face. Then, her friends followed in a chorus of giggles and sideways glances.

You mustn't forget the time you went into your bosses office for a raise. You'd done your job better than anyone else. You were on time, didn't call off, and worked over-time without objection. You deserved that raise. Dammit! In you walked. Shoulders back, chin held high, a smile on your face. "Nope. Can't do it," he responded. Immediate deflation.

Now your defenses were definitely up. You didn't want to hear your spirit any more. It had pumped you up to be courageous and let you down for the last time.
BUT, keep this in mind...

The more that you ignore that voice in your head that wants to achieve, the more that you will keep running. Your time is now. Where else is there to run?

Now, let's go through some ideas that we've discussed.

First, you must have a vision. You must have a direction in which you want to travel. There's a destination and a result that you want for all of the work that you are putting in on a daily basis.

This vision is clear. It's so clear that you can place yourself in the vision as if it were a memory. Remember the thunderstorm and running to your mother for protection? That's how clearly you make your vision. It will begin pulling you towards it as you fight through the day-to-day.

Then, you start deciding what it is that you are willing to sacrifice in order to receive the object of your desire. This is where you are today. This is where you stand as you contemplate your next move. Fight or flight.

Life has beat you up pretty good. It seems to have stolen so many of your dreams right from under you. Then that sly old fox, Father Time, has kept true to his word. Time has not stopped for you and he has not given you more hours in the day. Time is passing. Now the world looks at you like you're just another guy.

Well, that's not the way it's supposed to be for men like you! You are a man of passion, of ambition, of achievement. You will not succumb to the forces of mediocrity! You will not be just average! You will not be a good father! You will not settle for just over broke!

You have greatness inside and it will be set free! You will be a great father with a legacy worth telling future generations! You will be wealthy and successful in your own right!

So, why do you still want to run?

No man can face your challenges the way that you can. No man has been put together quite like you have. No man will ever be able to do the things the way that you can do. You have a particular set of skills. And, you will be able to set yourself on new path with the skills you acquire on your ascent.

You will be reborn in this life, if you so choose. You will be the greatest man any Goliath, demon, or spiritual force has ever seen because you have chosen to become great. With that decision comes an entire rebuilding of your spiritual armor.

You are a survivor. You are a warrior. You are a winner. You are a creature of God. You are unstoppable.

Now, get up. Grab your sling and your rock. And, slay your giant.

Your task today: write out your top three negative habits.

These habits are your giants. They are stopping you from achieving your dreams. They are stunting your growth. They are keeping you from facing your biggest enemy. We will get rid of them.

Until then...