There's a simple way to get started. Ask better questions like, "what are you doing?"
There's a very simple way to get started, friend. Remind yourself today who you've always wanted to be. Check in with yourself today on how far you've come on the journey. Step your dream forward -- today! In other words, take another step in growing the systems, processes, promotions, and connections that will make your dream a reality. Take another step on the road to achieve more together.
The thing that holds you back might just be you. Read on for my story. It's the story of the day I began to realize that I needed to ask better questions of myself.
How do we start our journeys? We start a journey with a message of hope. There is somewhere we decide we want to go. Are you in a decision moment?
How do we continue our journeys? We continue a journey with friends, acquaintances, some challengers, and many folks that need our leadership and love. We also continue by answering questions along the way about what we think is possible.
How do we reach important milestones? We reach our mountain tops when we step up to do something special. It requires that we realize that we really can achieve more. We can chart a course to grow, inspire, and achieve more. In a world full of people, it really is impossible to do that work alone.
The things that you've think are possible are pieces of your mental model. Your picture will likely expand as you go along the journey, but for some that doesn't happen. Whatever your picture of what was possible. Take the time to expand your vision of what's possible today. You don't need to necessarily take some dramatic, risky leap. Instead, build a step-by-step process of growing toward some bigger goals. Live a life in flow.
What do I mean? In my own story of starting to grow, I went to visit my friend Craig several years ago. Craig and I were talking about putting together some new marketing and promotions projects. We planned to meet that day at a coffee shop across town at 9 a.m.
I started the business day with a meeting at my church. My pastor needed to get his web site strategy together. We met to talk it over first thing in the morning. Also, that day, I decided not to drive to my meetings.
I was walking.
It was 8:50 a.m. and I had just started out for my meeting with Craig. I looked at my watch and realized, all of a sudden, that my 9 a.m. meetup was 4 miles away.
What did I do?
I decided that I was not going to ask for a ride. I was going to hustle. I was not going to reach out to others. I was going to walk.
And... I started beating myself up as I walked along. "How could you be such a terrible person? You're going to be really late! Why are you so awful as to make your friend wait?"
About 40 minutes into my walk to meet Craig, I was walking down into a beautiful green valley -- it was a little fold in the hills with a golf course, several streams, and a gorgeous view of the countryside. The golf course was actually called 12 stones crossing, a reference to the Old Testament crossing of the river Jordan by the 12 tribes of Israel. I had to make my own crossing that day.
After 40 minutes of beating myself up, I very distinctly heard a voice inside. It said, "What are you doing?"
I'm mad. I'm furious at myself. I can't believe I'm going to be late.
Again, I heard the same voice asking me, "What are you doing?"
I'm so late! I'm not going to make it. I can't do this on my own.
The third time, I heard the question, "What are you doing?"
I'm worried. I'm anxious. And I'm not trusting God or others or the process of this journey.
"Yep."
So I should probably give myself a break?
"Yep."
So maybe this is going to work out despite myself?
"Yep."
So maybe if I just need to pray and trust and trust a little more?
"Yep."
I decided that if I was going to walk, I might as well enjoy the journey. I said, Lord, I need help to get where I'm going.
There was one more big hill to climb. It was the tallest of the journey. I love hills. So I walked up that hill as quickly as I could go. It was like I was racing myself to the top. Just as I got to the top -- to that place where the angle of the climb softens into a peak -- I looked at my watch. It said, 9:40.
Then a funny thing happened. A minivan slowed down beside me. The driver said, "do you need a ride?"
"Sure do," I said. I walked around his car and hopped in.
"I'm Steve," he said. "Where are you headed?"
Just as I was about to tell him, my phone rang. It was my Pastor, Paul. "Hey, I just realized that you were heading to meet Craig and you didn't have a car today. Do you need a ride?"
"Nope, Paul, I actually just got a ride. Thanks for thinking of me," I said.
I turned back to Steve and mentioned the coffee shop I was going to. It was just a few minutes away. Just then, my phone rang again. I picked up. "Hi Chuck. It's Craig. I'm running late today. Do you need a ride to the coffee shop?"
"No, Craig. I'm walking late today. I think it sounds like I will probably get there before you."
I did. I got to the coffee shop at 9:45 and Craig walked in right behind me.
It was a day when I needed a little bit of mercy, mostly mercy for myself. Three people in the span of 90 seconds were there to offer me a car ride. It sure seemed like a miracle to me.
Do you need a miracle in your situation today? Do you need to give yourself a break and be reminded of what's possible? Do you need to know that it's going to be okay, today? It will.
Believe it or not, there are many, many people who are asking questions about what's possible. There are many challenges. There are a few challengers. There are real needs and real struggles that we carry with us throughout our busy days.
There are many others around you who would benefit from your love, your attention, and your encouragement. There are also probably quite a few people around you who are willing to help.
My prayer is that you may also be walking late today. Because you might just notice that you need encouragement on your journey. I hope you will ask yourself the question: "What are you doing?" The answers will probably surprise you.
On that good day a few years ago in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, the answers to that question had only just begun to become clear. More on that story soon. In the meantime make it a day of good questions and kind answers. As Jewel says, "If I could tell the world just one thing, it would be, we're all okay."
We are all okay. And it's also time for us to live life inspired. Will you?
- Chuck
Chuck Kirkpatrick, Founder
C Kirk Media Group
https://ckirkmedia.com
Live inspired.
Change the game & live a better story.