The Key to the Future You Wantਨਮੂਨਾ

THE DANGER OF COMPROMISE

There is so much power in habits. Great things are built out of small things. Brick by brick, buildings are built. Habit by habit, our future is formed. Each choice is a step in a specific direction in life. Intentional habits take us down a path to a future we want. Accidental habits take us down paths to destinations we didn’t pick and probably don’t want. The second law of thermodynamics shows that things left on their own, fall apart.

The problem is we aren’t choosing between great habits and no habits. We all have habits; we can choose them on purpose or just see what habits happen to develop, but either way, we have habits, and they are taking us places. Maybe the habit is healthy eating and portion control, or junk food and overindulging. Maybe the habit is just watching hours of TV, or maybe it's exercising, reading books, scrolling Facebook, playing board games, or investing in relationships. It doesn’t matter how much thought we give them; the habits take us down the road and shape our future positively or negatively.

Mistakes happen, but what we do consistently will shape us. A single negative comment in marriage can hurt, but consistent negative speech can destroy a relationship. Conversely, consistent positive speech can heal and strengthen it. A single workout or dessert isn’t going to define your future. But there lies the trap. When we don’t see the instant effect of our choices, compromise becomes appealing. Compromise is the path you want to walk, but it takes you to the destination you don't want to go to. It's the little choices that seem appealing and not too large, but take you in the wrong direction.

When we aren’t intentional, we make choices based on feelings and the moment. Compromises grow, become consistent, and take us places we never wanted to go. This is true in our health, relationships, character, walk with God, and work.

People don’t set out to be unhealthy, isolated, sick, and broke. But if we let hurt and unforgiveness form a habit of running and hiding, we will be alone. We can end up rejecting people before they can hurt or reject us. We can get so unhealthy that exercise becomes increasingly difficult. We can speak and joke in ways that cut those around us, that hurt people, until everyone tries to keep a safe distance. Spending every dollar leaves us waiting for the problem that will sink us.

Small compromises can lead us to dangerous patterns. Unintentional paths (habits) can take us to undesired places. What are we consistently practicing? Our habits will either create a path to success or lead us away from it. Are our habits intentional or accidental?