The Learning Curve

Today and tomorrow promises to be a day of change for our country and our world.  Our incoming elected president, President Elect Barack Obama, has promised much change in attitude, implementation, and action for our country.   For many this change is very welcome, and for some this will be resisted and downright hard to accept.

After having been on this earth for 44 years, I have discovered that change is not something that is implemented as easily as it is spoken.  There have been many times in my life that I have promised to make a difference, to change a behavior, and attitude, a habit, or a belief only to find myself making no change and reliving the days that I so wanted to improve, but failed.  It has been said so many times that I am tired of hearing it, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”  Many of you have shared your same experience with me.

However, for our world, our nation, our community, our home, our life to change for the better we must take a different approach than we did yesterday if we want our tomorrows to be better.  This change must start with me.  How can we improve anything in our life without first improving ourselves, without first taking on the challenges we have created in our lives?  How can we improve our outcomes if we do not improve our behaviors?

Today, I propose that the first change we make is to identify what our desired outcome in life really is.  Today, let us visualize, like Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently and passionately described his dream, our most desired outcomes for ourselves, our marriages, our families, our faith, our community, our nation and our world.  Then let us write down all of the excuses, or reasons, or dangers that could keep us from making these improvements occur on a piece of paper.  Look at it intently, then wad it up and throw it away forever.  Just let it go and don’t look back.

Now that we are free from our bondage, let’s take one step forward on a new path, as a pioneer on a journey of discovery.  Let us surrender to our own will and walk in faith that God will direct our steps.  Let us have the courage to take the next step and to enjoy the outcomes of a changed behavior that gets us closer to our goal.

Today take a step that creates a habit of success, because we are not promised tomorrow.

Trent Fortner

www.twitter.com/trent4tnr