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“We are given the ability to choose, just remember the choice you make today is the life you will live tomorrow”

Decision /dɪˈsɪʒ(ə)n/ noun – a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration.

We began this second topic of Decisions by establishing the fact we must choose to set the Bar… we are to lift up a standard and live above the expectations of others and the societal norm.

With everything we have looked at over the past several weeks, it becomes quite easy to listen to and even take on board whilst making the judgment call of “this sounds like a good idea” and “well that is a nice formula”.  However, many often forget we must pull the pin.  What I mean is we must make the decision to set the bar, to lift up the standard as opposed to simply talking, reading or listening to great plans and ideas of doing so. 

Now secondly, we must choose to make the decision to: 

Be Better

No one will or can do it for you, this is a decision we must make within the developed mindset.  I use the phrase “pull the pin” and the word “execution” because these are strong statements needed to take on, to buy into in order to become the best person, the best versions of our selves in the only life we have been given.  Success is driven by individuals who strive to be better than they were before.  There needs to be a time in our life when we are:

• Living better than we have before…
• Walking better than we have before…
• Serving better than we have before…
• Giving better than we have before…

We need to strive to be better than we were last week, last month, last year… better than yesterday.  The famed Apostle Paul used the phrase “reaching forth”, he was continually reaching forth, he wasn’t looking at what has been achieved or for that matter, what has NOT been achieved, but rather he was constantly, reaching forth, onward looking and forward moving!  Sam Walton, the founder of the Wal-Mart empire was always reminding those around to look “onward and upward”, it was his way to keep people motivated to be better.

If we will “Be Better”… first we must refuse to:

Settle

Settling for second best or the status quo is a decision, it is a choice people intentionally make. This is not something happening in a person’s life by force.  To settle, is to become stagnant.  When water is stagnant, parasites and disease will develop.  If we succumb to settling where and to what we are, the same is true for us, elements will grow and develop in our lives which will only work to hinder and hurt us.  Contentment is a good thing and it actually works against the idea of settling, because it places you in a position of faith, even when things aren’t how you envisioned them or as successful as you may have wished; being content in such a present state fuels you to keep pressing forward, to be better at the whatsoever state we are in!

So beloved, refuse to settle… up or down… Be Better by settling not, but rather continually reaching forth…

“You don’t have to settle… you don’t have to be less than the best version of you!”