Carpe Mentality: 12 Days to Seizing Your Best Life in Christಮಾದರಿ

Discipline: Maintain Faithful Consistency with Your Commitments

Are you the sort of person who follows through with what you say you will do? Or are you like most people? You say one thing and do another. Do you have a goal or dream that you have yet to accomplish? Are you even working towards it? There is no time like right now. You are not guaranteed the future. Are you ready to follow through with your commitments? It really is as simple as doing what you say you will do.

You might work towards a goal and find resistance. You might need to change your plans up a little bit. Create a new blueprint instead of working off old plans. The point is, do not give up on yourself. Make yourself useful today and focus on the future. Focusing on the future will allow you to be fulfilled in working towards something that is not easy. Do not take the easy way out. Nothing in this life worth doing is easy. There is something I have observed over the years when trying to accomplish anything. I call it “The Great Trade.” I have never heard or read about it elsewhere. It is just a simple observation that I have noticed.

In The Great Trade, in order for someone to accomplish anything, that person has to trade one thing for another. The trade is never easy. The trade is always hard. So, the trade is balanced. You want to accomplish something great? You have to do something very difficult. You want to achieve a goal or dream? You have to endure the pain of achieving that goal or dream. You want to be admired? Then you have to be ridiculed. You want to be in a position of power? Then you have to give up your power to another. You want to be first? Then you have to be last. There is no way around “The Great Trade.” I am not perfect, so I could be wrong, but I have looked at The Great Trade from every angle. I do not see a way around The Great Trade.

The only thing that resembles a way around The Great Trade is the free gift of God in Jesus Christ. Undeniably, in His word God says this gift is free and cannot be earned (Romans 6:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8 through 9: “For by Grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” You see, it is 100 percent a free gift.

Though there is nothing you can do to earn salvation, as it is a free gift, there is still a trade. After you receive His free gift, you must lay down your life and commit to Him forever. The life of a Christian is not easy. Yes, there are Christians who go about it in the wrong way and who try to force the gospel down people’s throats. But the Christian life is a life devoted to God and loving others. Those who are genuinely trying to help people in any way possible. Yes, Christians want people to know about Jesus, but first and foremost it is about loving those in need. And we are all in some sort of need. Those who live the Christian life face a ton of persecution. In America it is not so bad. But in other countries, you are martyred for your faith as a Christian, no questions asked.

The Christian life is not an easy life at all. We literally have to pick up our cross daily. Picking up our cross is to be ridiculed, judged, thought of as less than, categorized, and even put to death. You see, even accepting God’s free gift, there is a Great Trade. The Christian life is not for the faint of heart. To be a Christian is to be a Christ follower. Not just a believer in Jesus but a devout daily follower. One who lives a life of sacrifice and discipline. One who does not choose the easy way out but the hard way. To live a life of possible punishment and ridicule. To me, this is the life I want to live. I stand for what I believe in. I hope I will always choose the right choice—to love and assist those who do not love and assist me. I do not serve to be served but to help others with no strings attached. Now, that is a hard life. Loving people who despise and hate you. Only God can grant such love.

So you see, The Great Trade is absolutely necessary. If you are looking to achieve new heights, then you have to trade one thing for another. There are certain things that might be deal breakers for you. This trade might be one of them. It is good to be aware of this Great Trade. I have deal breakers. One of which is my faith in Christ. The other is my family. I have other deal breakers, but these are the most pronounced in my mind. You have to decide in your mind what you are willing to trade for your success. If you are not willing to trade, then you must be willing to not achieve that goal.

Once you have decided what you are willing to trade and you have committed to follow through until you reach that goal, you are ready to take ownership of your life. Taking ownership means that you can no longer blame anyone else for your shortcomings or disadvantages. The ball is in your court; you are the only person to blame. You are the only person on the field who is in charge of making the plays. Those who take ownership of their life do not make excuses. They do not moan about their lack of time or resources. They make it happen. And if they cannot figure out how, they look for someone who can help them make it happen.

Remember, there is always a way. As long as you are persistent in taking extreme ownership of your life, then you are ready to be a leader. Leaders do not rely on other people to make decisions in their own lives. They rely on the gifts and talents God has given them. If they have a shortfall in abilities, they then find a way to learn.

If you are ready to be that leader, it is time to get going in the right direction. There is no time like the present. You are only assured this very second. Carpe NOW! Be someone who is a leader and not a follower of the masses. Choose a disciplined life that is not about feeling good all the time. Feelings come and go, but your discipline needs to be here to stay. Do not allow your discipline to be like your feelings. Do not wait for the big aha moment. Time is precious, and your time is now. Use your intellect to take the first step.

Once you tell your mind to take that first step, your body will follow. You are the master of your own body. You are not enslaved to yourself. You tell yourself what to do when you want to do it. You want to accomplish a goal or dream. Well, get that mind working and tell that body to move. Once your body is in motion, your feelings will catch up. Your passion will be ignited. Though you do not need passion and feelings to accomplish your goals, those will come in due time. If you wait for the right feeling, you might wait your entire life.

This habit’s challenge for you is to follow through with your commitments by taking ownership of your life and being the leader God designed you to be. Your chances are fleeting. Your life is a simple vapor. Reap the opportunity you have in front of you to take hold of your life. You are in the driver's seat. No longer be a passenger in your life. Put it in first gear and be the driver. Choose the hard way, not the easy way. If it is too easy and breezy, then it is not worth your time. Be the person who decides whether or not you are looking for the comfortable path or the hard one. The right path is the hard path. Choose your destiny today. The time is now. Choose to take The Great Trade. Carpe NOW, be disciplined, and reap the rewards.