Yes we are already almost halfway through the first month of 2011.

What does this mean to you?

Here is what it means to me — Life is too short to spend it:

Waiting on opportunities.
I have decided to learn to stay more focused and alert to create what comes my way into the opportunities that will lead me to fulfill my goals and dreams.

Going around in circles, because I did not learn the lesson the first time.
I have decided to learn the first time! This means being more alert and sensitive to people, things and my surroundings.

Enough is enough! The success overflow has begun in my life NOW (Quote from John Di Lemme’s 210 Affirmation Challenge.)

Wasting time with the petty things of life.
I think we have all found ourselves tripping up with petty arguments, circumstances we worried about needlessly etc. It is time to put those things aside and focus on the IMPORTANT things in life.

The first 14 days of this year, I have spent reading more (my first book this year was Jesus, Life Coach: Learn from the Best – wonderful book!), meditating more (on the Bible, God and the seed of destiny He has placed in my heart, which is also known as my WHY), and making firm plans and decisions for the days ahead.

I am determined to make the very most of every second of this year, 2011. And no, you don’t have to wait until Dec 31st of any given year to make plans, decisions and resolutions. You can resolve (decide) to change anything in your life NOW, no matter what the date is!

What you do with TODAY will decide what you will do with this year.

Photo Credit

It is not too late to start this challenge today, and I highly recommend it.

Actually the correct quote is:

I am on Day 16 of this challenge, but you can start today.

There is no deadline to begin your 210 days. You would simply finish 209 days from today. So you have not missed out. Start today, in fact right NOW!

Are Affirmations Enough?
One thing that is striking me as I follow this challenge and it provokes a question:
Is simply affirming (repeating, declaring) something enough to change your life?

The answer is: No.

So when I declare: I am driving my faith by my words now, I am telling my brain to speak ONLY words that will build my faith.

This means that during the rest of the day I will be alert to speak faith words and avoid every conversation and comment that could be detrimental to my faith.

So what then is an affirmation? King David made many strong affirmations in the Bible. One of the outstanding ones is found in Psalm 103:2

“Bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all of His benefits”.

David made this affirmation in a time of great stress in his life (and if you remember David had a lot of those times in his lifetime). This was much more than an affirmation, it was a command to himself.

He was commanding his brain: You are going to bless the Lord whether you feel like it or not.

This is what an affirmation really is. So when I say: “I am driving my faith by my words now” I am telling my brain to send me positive instructions to put into action today! Instructions that will lead me to fulfill my why!

Are your words driving your faith today?

Photo Credit

I was listening to a webinar by John Di Lemme this evening and as always there were lots of great nuggets of wisdom for success. One of the many of these nuggets which stood out to me was this quote:

Quitters do not understand committers.

Why – because commitment requires:

• Discipline
• Determination
• Dedication

Quitters don’t like any of these three verbs. In other words, quitters are usually looking for the easy route, and so they don’t like anything that spells hard work or pain.

Jim Rohn often said –

We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.

Discipline means work – hard work, and yours and my body don’t really like that.

There is no easy way to success – that is why all who pursue an easy way will give usually up. Then they will say things like: “I guess success is just not for me” or “I have tried this, and I have tried that and nothing works”.

Quitters are the ones who look for the easy way. They are the ones who scoff at long term commitment, determination and dedication. They are also the complainers.

Committers know that real success will take time and hard work and they are prepared to pay the price.

Today’s question is:
Are you prepared for the long haul or do you spend your time looking for short cuts?

There is a great verse in the Bible (in Galations 6:9) that says : And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Never give up - you might be just moments away from achieving your goals of success.