Motivation

You may wake up and feel like you don’t want to do anything. You may feel like the chores can wait. Everything can wait. Guess what? It can. You are living in the midst of a pandemic. Nothing is regular. Your routine is not normal. Things are different, and so are you. It’s okay. You lack motivation. You are tired. You are not your usual self. It’s okay. The routine will come. The new normal will become your normal. You will feel better. You will find your motivation. Until then, relax.

Objective

When we are revamping our resumes or job hunting, we do so on purpose. We have an objective. We have a goal. We have a purpose. We are deliberate. We should always have an objective in every area of our life. We fast with a goal in mind. We pray with a purpose. We should speak and live in the same manner. Be objective and have an objective for this year.

Reach

How far is your reach? What does your sphere of influence look like? Do people listen when you speak? Are you a leader? Are you an example? Your reach extends past your immediate circle. In this new digital age, every post and every picture can have a global impact. Things go viral everyday. We should be mindful of what we do because of our reach. Our reach impacts others. Our touch, our speech, our sentiments, our opinions matter. They have reach.

Excellence

I had the pleasure of throwing my mother a surprise 70th birthday yesterday. One word that kept coming up was excellence. My mother has always set a standard of excellence in both my life as well as those around us. She expects the best from herself and everyone around her. In grade school, “C’s” were unacceptable. She stressed that I was not average, and average was not God’s standard. When I started dating, she insisted that I pray and seek God’s best for my life. Good was nice. Better is okay, but God’s best was undeniable. That’s excellence. Excellence is God’s standard. It’s God’s best. It’s more than you think or ask. It’s abundance. Be excellent. Live in excellence.

Sweat Equity

Genesis 3:19 (KJV) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The fall of man is described in the third chapter of Genesis. Adam's disobedience caused the ground to be cursed. What was once easy became difficult and challenging. Disobedience has consequences, both seen and unseen. Truthfully, most of us don't value things until it costs us something. When we invest our own blood, sweat, and tears, we have a greater appreciation for it. We see it all the time. Rich kids blow through their inheritance. Kids break toys and devices because they don't see the value in it. They didn't pay the price. What do you deem valuable? What did you pay to get it? What have you paid for with sweat equity? 

Gain

The end of the year always makes me reflect. I reflect on the past year. I think about my victories and my losses. I think about my loved ones. I think about what I want to change, and what I can improve in the upcoming year. I try to set S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant/results focused,time-based) goals. I really try to drive home all of the lessons of the previous year. Most importantly, I ask myself what have I gained? As you prepare to embark on this new year, how have you grown? What have you gained? 

Mark 8:36 (KJV) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?