Lofty Expectations

The expectations conundrum is one of life's more difficult dilemmas.  How do we balance our desire to succeed against the realities of a competitive world, and the unexpected challenges that it may throw our way?  This is a big part of learning and ultimately succeeding at whatever we endeavor to accomplish.

Most, if not all, of us like to set goals and achieve them, whether formal or informal in nature.  If you are a regular reader of "Workout Your Faith", then you know that I speak often about goals and the way we go about setting them, and/or achieving them.  Today I want to look primarily at the dirty dark side of the situation, when we don't live up to our expectations.  How do we handle it?  What comes next?  Did I fail?  These are a few of the questions I need to look into with you, so that we can all come out better on the other side.

As I write I have just completed a week that has shown two variations in how this works, one from my own experience and the other from observing my daughter.  The difference is stark, and one must consider the difference in age and maturity level between a 48 (soon to be) 49 year old, and that of a 16 year old, but I find it illustrative nonetheless.

In my corporate position we have been involved for months with an audit of our financial records by a contractor for the federal government.  This is not an audit because of any criminal wrongdoing, but a part of the growing oversight to determine that government dollars are being used in the most appropriate manner possible (remember that budget deficit and national debt stuff).  This past Monday when I returned to the office we had finally received the draft report from the auditors that will be given to the agency with whom we are contracted to begin the next phase of the audit process, the error correction phase.

The report outlined the issues that the auditors found with our processes and systems, and how these few areas were deficient under the regulations.  As a matter of expectation none of the items were a tremendous surprise.  When you are a small organization and deal with the tremendous complexities of government regulation, it is not unusual to miss something or not fully understand the ramifications of seemingly small items.  My disappointment in the audit findings then was not tremendous.  Yes we all want a clean audit, no matter the field we are in, or who is doing the oversight, but we also realize these people are here to make us better.  It is when we adopt this attitude that we will succeed.  Those who oversee us and can in the proper context guide us to improvement are to be respected and followed.

In the church it might look like this:

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be

 submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 

"God resists the proud,

but gives grace to the humble."

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I Peter 1:5-7

On the other end of the scale is the disappointment such as my daughter faced this week.  Olivia is a bright, talented, energetic, overachieving sophomore at a local high school.  Yesterday was the annual audition for the All-Region choir which she was a part of last year at the Jr. High level, and by the way when these choirs get together and sing it is a beautiful thing, especially to an old sports guy that missed the boat when it came to the arts back in my youth.  Unfortunately Friday rolled around and she was not feeling well, and yesterday morning early, even as we were rolling into the parking lot to catch the bus to the audition, she said, "I can't do it."  Then as we exited the car and walked to the door to notify the choir director there was a change of heart (less than two minutes from "I can't do it.")  So off she went knowing in her heart that she was not at her best.  Several hours later her number was called for the audition.  The time she had put in was being put to the test, and then the waiting would begin.  We picked her up and of course the first question we had was, "how did it go?"  The truthful response, "terrible".  It is understood from the viewpoint of a parent that it is difficult to perform at your highest levels when you do not feel well.  In the eyes of youth it may be known, but that knowledge doesn't cross the threshold of our mind to the emotional side.  So as the waiting persisted, and she started to feel a little better physically, her level of expectation (even though she termed her performance terrible) rose, and she fully expected to be named to one of the All-Region honor choirs.  Alas, the call came late last evening, and reality set in.  There would be no honor choir this year.  Yes we were, and continue to be, disappointed for her.  No it isn't easy consoling our kids in their disappointment.  However, we will see over the next several days what she is made of, in how she responds to the disappointment.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

so are the children of one's youth.

Psalm 127:4

Our job as parents will be to make sure her arrow remains on point, and aimed in the proper direction.  Her job will be to assess her preparation and performance, as well as the reality of her decision to perform in light of her illness.  We as parents are proud of her for showing commitment and sticktoitiveness in carrying on despite her illness, and yet we must help her temper her emotions and re-connect the realities of the situation to the emotions she has felt.

As we all set goals and seek success with the various aspects of our lives we must remember to keep the connections clear between the realities of the world and the emotions and desires of our heart.  Some have said,

"I never fail, as long as I learn from my failures"

I like that.  That is an attitude that will propel you forward.  Forward, with a few occasional steps back for perspective, is the direction we need to be heading.  A winning attitude will help us all to Make Today Great!

Midweek Motivation #7

Midweek 

Motivation

#7

Success is the fruit of our past failures.  We must learn from our failures and even better from the failures of others.

Observe, Consider, Improve

www.workoutyourfaith.blogspot.com

Midweek Motivation #6

Earlier this week I was privileged to spend a couple of days watching a master at work.  Raynard Brown was a guest conductor working with the Arkansas Jr High Treble Honors Choir which convened in Little Rock.  This man set such a positive tone and shared tremendous insight with a group of about 50 students from across our fair state.  There needs to be more Raynard Browns positively impacting and shaping the lives of our young people.  How will you influence our youth?  To quote Mr. Brown, "it's not about you, it's up to you."  Do Well!

Writing

Writing

Last week I began a three part series on some of our fundamentals for success, the first installment was that old favorite reading.  Now as advertised we move to the next of the sequence writing.

In the early days of our nation the fundamental building blocks of education were known as the 3 R’s; reading, writing, and arithmetic.  Though we were not a highly educated nation at that time, by today’s standards, I would argue that we were a better educated people.  The level of proficiency in writing seen in many early-American writings show a far superior grasp of the English language and its grammatical structure than what is seen today.

Prevalence of a Problem

Who today, has not read a newspaper, magazine, book, or blog without finding an ever-increasing volume of mistakes?  What has happened?  It is my opinion, and you all can have your own as well, that we have diluted the value of this skill of writing, and its predecessor, reading.  When the professionals of the field such as publishers, editors, and newsroom copy writers can’t, or won’t, get it right how can we expect anyone else to get it right either?

I recognize that anyone reading my posts are likely to find several errors.  This actually goes to strengthen my case, in that it goes back at least as far as my education in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  This is not to be a complete indictment of the classroom teachers, many of whom are doing everything they can to educate our children, but rather to an educational bureaucracy that has been built separating the decision-makers in an elaborate hierarchy too far from those who must implement the programming on a daily basis, often struggling with elements of classroom dynamics that the decision makers cannot or will not consider.

Why is it Important?

Writing is integral to the transfer of knowledge, and the conduct of law and business.  Writing also provides a record of history and precedent, which is important when we consider the words of George Santayana,

“Those who do not remember the past

are condemned to repeat it.”

If the written word were not important then there is no reason for libraries, bookstores, or some exhibits in museums.  Were it not for the written word there would be no scripts for your favorite programming (this could be an advantage compared to some I have seen) and there would be no instructions for all those build-it-yourself furniture or toy purchases we have all encountered.  Most importantly the written word provides us with scripture that can be passed down in its entirety, not relying completely on traditions and oral transmission to keep it alive.

The Future

The future is now.  If we want to preserve our language we must insist on high quality, not settling for less than our best.  With our children we must be vigilant as they engage in writing to guide them in the finer points of what they write as well as being tuned in to how they spell and punctuate.  Yes this takes time, but it also is an investment in their future, and our own.  When we engage our mind in enrichment activity such as this we gain.  For our society to have hope of success for the future we must communicate effectively and writing is foundational to that hope.  So the next time you hack out that text message or social media post, proof it, and drop the goofy abbreviations for everything.  Perhaps, in a text, for brevity an occasional abbreviation would be acceptable, but I would encourage accuracy and clarity.

To Do Well, we should commit to clarity, conciseness, and simplicity in our written communications.  I look forward to seeing improved writing from those who may read this article, and hope that you would each pass this on to others encouraging written excellence!

Next week: Arithmetic

Reading

Apart from a deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ and Jehovah God there are few things more fundamental to our success than reading.  Reading opens doors of thought that cannot be opened in any other way making for a most constructive way of passing our time.  There is a saying that says,

Leaders are Readers

and despite your field of endeavor this rings true.  Those who read fuel their minds and are more able to make the connections that may otherwise be missed between seemingly random events of everyday life.  Readers make the best teachers, preachers, and trainers.  Readers seem to adapt better to change, which may be a reflection of the amount of information they have stored in their minds.  In our ever-changing society this can be a great advantage.

On the softer side readers of poetry and fiction may be carried away to places far away, or just enough away from their current reality to provide a safe escape which can lower their stress from day to day difficulties.  A far safer alternative of escape than drugs, alcohol, porn, and the like.  Those of faith can also be reassured by their readings from scripture.  Every word of scripture is inspired by God and as is stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that the man of God may be complete, 

thoroughly equipped for every good work."

From a practical standpoint one can gain insights on many useful subjects such as nutrition, health, and finances from a variety of readings.  Each of these subject areas and several other popular ones fill many shelves of libraries and bookstores as well as containing many e-titles to choose from.  With the right mindset there is something for anyone to read that can educate, inspire and enlighten.  My challenge to you is to build your personal library, take advantage of your local public library and connect with other ideas via on line sources such as websites, blogs, and the like that allow you to expand your knowledge in an area that interests you.  If you will choose to take a path to growing your reading list you will Do Well!

Next Week: Writing 

Monday Morsel #12

Control your time, when it escapes you it cannot be recovered.  This is a vital discipline no matter how you define success in your life.

Monday Morsel #11

Know your true north.  Set your compass and take the journey to your definition of success.

MONDAY MORSEL #10

Seek the big picture solution.   Band-Aids must be removed and only deal with the symptom not the real problem.

Fading Fast?

Often our efforts to gain fitness or stay fit seem to take a detour.  Like the early morning moon in the photo they are fading fast.  What do we do to stem the tide when this occurs?

This is a difficult question that has many answers which could be right.  Based upon my experience here are a few suggestions.

First when you begin to notice the fade, give yourself a timeout.  Much like a basketball coach will take a timeout to stop theomentum of the opponent.  Give yourself a short respite from what you have been doing toward your fitness goal. 

This timeout is where you assess what is happening and the reasons for your fade.  Could it be a lack of support structures in your life, or a change of physical condition such as the onset of an illness, perhaps even boredom with the same old routine. More than likely there is a confluence of a few to several reasons that you are fading.

Once you have identified the apparent causes you must make some decisions on how to address them.  You may need to seek out a training partner to add accountability or support.  It could be time to check in with your physician and have some blood work done.  Creating a new exercise regimen or altering the course of your daily run/walk/bike may be just enough of a change to renew your enthusiasm.

A final thought in this area is don't be afraid to take a day off occasionally from your routines of life.  This shocks your body, mind, and spirit just a bit and can serve as a very necessary restart.  So in the words of legendary college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, "you better get a t-o (timeout) baby!"

If you will read the signs and take the right actions you can Do Well.  Be aware of your situation and don't allow the fade to overtake you on the road to success.

MONDAY MORSEL #8

I once read that John Wooden did not use the phrase "have a good day."  He believed that it,was too passive and to be successful we must create our good days with attitude and work ethic.  It's hard to argue with the legacy of success he left behind.

MONDAY MORSEL #7

MONDAY MORSEL #7
May 16, 2016

We have a tendency to complicate things.  We MUST simplify to succeed.

MONDAY MORSEL #5

MONDAY MORSEL #5
May 1 2016

Meekness is NOT Weakness.

Matthew 5:5 "The meek shall inherit the earth."

True leadership is servant leadership, not authority of position, but authority earned through relationships that are not self serving.

MONDAY MORSEL #1

           M.   T.   X.   E. 

MENTAL TOUGHNESS. EXTRA EFFORT

I saw this as a mantra for the Wichita State Shockers basketball teams of the early 1980's and it has always stuck.

Power for Positive Change

Seeking change is a difficult thing, whether it is walking away from sin in our life or changing our habits to create a healthier lifestyle.  How do we deal with change when it is necessary, or sometimes thrust upon us?  That is the question for today.

In order to adopt change in our lives we must recognize the necessity for the change.  This is often our biggest challenge as the status quo has a lot of momentum behind it.  We must be able look beyond the here and now to the brighter future that positive change provides.  This will slow that momentum of the past.

Next we must truly be able to visualize the future we desire from the change.  When we can see it in our mind's eye, then we can begin to determine the course or courses of action to get there.  At this point motivation becomes a key factor, do we have the internal drive, an internal compass to guide us each step toward this true north?  If yes, then we are well on our way, if no, then we still have some work to do before we can plan and implement positive change.

Assuming we can see the brighter future, and have the right internal motivation then the steps along the way will become more clear.  In our Christian walk it is stated that, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  God's Word is a wonderful starting point for our journey and my recommendation as the proper lens to view all aspects of our life.

Within our journey to fitness, faithfulness, or an other worthy change we must recognize how to see the change and then be the change.  No, change will not come easy, but it will be rewarding.

Finally we must admit when we get off course, and turn back to the pathway of success.  For the Christian this is repentance and acceptance of God's grace.  When we step aside from the chosen path we cannot beat ourselves up, but rather course correct and give ouselves a bit of grace, just as God our Father give us grace.

If each of us would look inside, and follow these steps as the need for change arises in our lives, we would be much more likely to succeed.  Change your world for the better, Do Well.  Others are watching and your positive change can inspire others to be better as well.

P.E.A.K. Performance

Here is a quick guide to moving toward peak performance In your life.  Give it a try and let me know how it goes.

Routine or Rut-ine?

Have you ever noticed that within the word routine is hidden the letters you also need to spell rut?

Routines are good for us.  They bring order to our life along with a degree of certainty and knowing what to expect.  All of these are positive, but do we get so wrapped up in the routine that it becomes stale or mundane?  If you are anything like me that can become the case.  Before we know it we are doing nothing but going through the motions for no other reason but to mark them from our list.

It is at this point that the routine has become a RUT.  What do we know about ruts?  If we think of some of the country roads, they will become rutted by the traffic and if a spark of change ( road crew) doesn't do something about it the rut only gets deeper.  As a rut deepens it becomes harder to get out of and if it gets too deep we become stuck.  If we are stuck then we are not getting any results from our efforts.

Personally I believe I have fallen into some ruts in my life.  How about you?  Is it time to make some changes in our routines?  For me it is, and if you recognize a rut forming in your routine then I strongly suggest shaking up the routine.  It doesn't have to be drastic, but it cannot remain the same.

In Matthew 6:31-34 Jesus reminds us not to worry about everything "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (NKJV)  If we will start with this thoughr at the top of our priority list then He will guide us through the rest. 

Go out this week with Christ first and then let Him take control of the routines of our life, that we May DO WELL.

The Challenge of Challenges

Challenges befall us at frequent intervals.  How do we respond?  If we are honest with ourselves we often fail.

Whether the challenges are physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual we have decisions to make, often in the heat of the moment.  What we do in those moments goes a long way to setting the course for our lives.  Two of the best ways to be prepared are to be an observer of others and to set in place some absolutes where we will not compromise when challenged.

To do these things will set us up for far more successes when challenged than failures.  By being an observer of others we see how others respond to their own challenges and this gives valuable information for facing our own challenges.  Setting up some absolutes is a form of resolve that truly defines who we are and what we are about.

If we are parents this idea of having absolutes is critical in modeling for our children.  Kids need to understand boundaries, and to know there are things that we, and they, cannot do. 

The week ahead will likely pose challenges for each of us, how we respond may be a defining moment.  How will we be defined?  Go out this week, face your challenges, and Do Well.

Commitment to Improve

Early in my adult life I worked as a retail store manager for Hastings Entertainment stores.  I recall that when we would have to write someone up for policy violations we used a form called "Commitment to Improve" (CTI).  Though the form name was meant portray a positive tone, it was never taken as such by those who were being written up.

As we begin the adventure that is a new year I want to challenge each of you to join me in making a commitment to Improve in some area or areas of your life. 

I have written a considerable bit about goal-setting in the past couple of months and want to make one more appeal to you in this regard.  Though plans often go astray they do provide us with a road map and a definition of success.  If we, as Christians, let others or the world at large define success we will be hopelessly spinning our wheels and likely have wedges inserted between us and God, that become far more difficult to remove over time.

Define your success, move forward toward it, and Do Well in 2016.