Reinventing Yourself

Are you unhappy with who you have become? Do you feel stuck in a rut and want to change? Do you believe it is possible to change, or have you bought into the lie that you and who you are and there is nothing you can do about it? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this blog is for you!

It is possible to change the way you are. While change takes time, effort, and may be difficult it is possible. You can become the person you have always wanted to be. You can be happy. You can be fulfilled. You can be successful.

The Bible is clear that it is possible to experience positive change. God has given us His word and His spirit in order that we can experience lasting change.

The word “repent” means to have a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of attitude, resulting in a change of actions, and a change of direction, and a change of results. Repentance is not a one-time event in the life of a Christian. It is an ongoing daily process.

According to psychologist William James “a man can change his life by changing his attitude.” This is simply another way of saying what the Apostle Paul told the Roman church, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:1).

The word “transformation” comes from the Greek word “metamorpheo” from which we get the English word “metamorphosis”. A “metamorphosis” is a total change or “reinventing” of ones self. The common example of this is the change that happens when a caterpillar spins a cacoon and then emerges as a beautiful butterfly. Now that’s transformation!

The following principles will aid you in reinventing yourself:

Choose to change.

While this may sound elementary, you will never change until you make the decision to. Make the quality decision that from this day forward you will begin to be the person you have always dreamed of being. A quality decision is one from which you will not turn away. It is a decision of commitment to change.

Change the way you think.

To reinvent yourself you must change your thought processes. As Zig Zigler says, you must get rid of “stinkin thinkin!” They way you think determines how you act, and how you act determines what you get. Let go of the negative thoughts that have been holding you back. Replace them with the positive things God has to say about you in His word. Determine to think high thoughts. Thoughts of victory and success.

Change your talk.

Get rid of all the negative self-talk. Quit saying what you can’t do and start declaring what you can and will do. Quit putting yourself down. Start believing in yourself, you ideas, and your abilities. Say with the Apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Discover your divine design.

Understanding your purpose in life is essential to reinventing yourself. You can’t be the person you were meant to be if you don’t know why you are here in the first place. You are not an accident. God has a plan for your life. Here are five questions that will help you discover your divine design:

• What are your natural gifts and talents?
• What excites or stirs you, what is your passion?
• What are your dreams and aspirations?
• What type of personality traits do you possess?
• What are your leadership skills? (Are you a manager, a doer or a visionary?)

The answers to these questions will help you discover your life mission. God will never call you to do something that He hasn’t created you to do. Your life purpose is what gives you direction, responsibility and meaning to life.

The me I see.

I heard Robert Schuller speak on the subject “The me I see is the me I’ll be.” I have never forgotten the message in the title alone. You will never rise above the person you see yourself to be. By changing your thinking, your self-talk, and discovering your divine design, you will begin to see yourself the way God sees you. Begin today to see yourself organized, attractive, diligent, reliable, happy and successful. It is a true statement, “if you can conceive it, you can achieve it!” Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Be yourself.

So many people live frustrated, directionless and meaningless lives because they are trying to be someone they aren’t. By trying to be the person someone else wants you to be you short-circuit being the person God made you to be. Don’t allow yourself to be molded by the opinions of others. Refuse to let others try to live their lives through you. You are born an original, don’t die a copy. Your value is in your individuality. It is not in your similarities to others.

Where are you going?

What is it that you have always dreamed of accomplishing in life? In order to reinvent yourself you must have a vision of where you are going and what you intend to accomplish. Highly successful people are goal setters. A Goal is a vision or a dream with a deadline on it. It is something to aim at. As Denis Waitly says, “If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?” Set goals that are in line with your life mission, not someone else’s!

Associate with people you desire to be like.

Your associations have much to do with your success in life. Many times it is imperative that some relationships be severed. Paul the Apostle said, “Evil communications (associations) corrupt good manners.” (I Corinthians 15:33) put an end to relationships that are a negative influence, that belittle you, that drain you of your time and energy.

On the other hand, begin to associate with people that are likeminded as you. Choose to associate with positive, honest, faith-filled people that will inspire you to greatness. Solomon also wrote, “Iron sharpeneth iron.” In other words, you become like the people you associate with. Make the decision to develop relationships with people that are successful in your field of endeavor. Run with winners!

Commit to lasting change.

Reinventing yourself won’t happen overnight. However, it will happen if you stick with it. Personal development, or personal growth, is simply the process if becoming the person you were made to be. To accomplish this you must commit to it. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, discouraged or defeated.

Ask God to help you.

Prayer gets God involved in your life. Seek Him for guidance, strength, and the ability to change. Believe when you pray that he will not only hear you, but also that you will receive what you are asking for. Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

The road to becoming a “new you” may be long and difficult at times, but if you will stick with it you will make it. As a result, you will become a person of productivity and accomplishment.

Someone Is Looking For You

You are unique. You are important. You are qualified to touch someone’s life and make a positive difference. You have what someone else needs. It could be information. It could be a business opportunity. It could be a word of encouragement. It could be a product or service. Whatever it is, you hold the answer to someone’s questions and the solution to someone’s problems.

Try to wrap your mind around this truth. For some it’s a new if not almost foreign concept. Whether you realize it or not, you are a problem solver. Most people only spot problems. But you are different, you solve them. Someone, somewhere, is looking for what you are uniquely qualified to solve.

Everything is created to solve a problem. Everyone is created to solve a problem. Every product and service is founded on this principle. Think about this. Chefs solve hunger problems. Doctors solve health problems. Dentists solve teeth problems. Lawyers solve legal problems. Personal trainers solve exercise and fitness problems. Mechanics solve automobile problems. Teachers solve education problems. Coaches solve motivation problems. Factory workers solve production problems. Ministers solve spiritual problems. And so on. Do you get the point?

What is it that excites you? What is it that angers you? What do you see around you that you want to help change? How can you help others solve the problems they are encountering? Your answers could be an indication of the problems you are created to solve.

You can’t fix everything wrong in the world. You can’t solve every problem. You can’t answer every question. Everyone won’t need what you have to offer, but somebody does. You weren’t born to be the savior of the world. But you were born to solve some problem. This one is one of the most liberating things I’ve ever discovered. It helped me become real. It set me free from what I’ve termed “The Messiah Complex.” It enabled me to focus on what I could do to solve the problems I am qualified to solve, and from trying to solve problems I’m not qualified to solve.

What would the world be like if we could all grasp this concept? I think the world would be a better place if everyone found their place and solved the problems they are qualified to solve.

Your life purpose may not be the same as mine, but you have one, and it’s important. It’s important to you and it’s important to others. Your talents, your skills, your strengths, your interests, your passions, your experiences, are all part of what makes you qualified to be a problem solver. Why not make the decision today to use what you’ve been blessed with to help others solve the problems they are facing in life. Someone is looking for you. They are looking for what you have to offer. Find them. Help them solve their problem and they will be eternally grateful!

Achievement

There is nothing greater than the feeling of accomplishment. To set out to do something and then to do it. President Franklin Roosevelt said, “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”

Anyone can start a project, only winners finish what they start. The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” Highly successful people are not those who know how to start a project, but rather those that know how to finish it.

The key to achievement is persistence. Persistence is the ability to stick with something until you have accomplished it. It is the ability to not quit or give up when the going gets tough. Robert Schuller says, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Persistence keeps you going in spite of the opposition, setbacks or difficulties you may face.

Determine to finish what you start. Develop your persistence muscle. Be determined to not stop until you reach your goals. As author John Mason says, “Let go of whatever makes you stop.” A dream, hard work and persistence will make you a person of achievement.

Positive Thinking

All high achievers are positive thinkers. Being an optimist is essential to success in life. Believing for, and expecting the best are marks of people that accomplish great things in life.

This is true in all areas of life. Businesspeople, athletes, factory workers, homemakers, students, can all benefit from positive thinking.

Positive thinkers don’t just see things as they are now, but as they can be. They tend to be problem solvers instead of problem spotters. They see the silver lining behind the dark clouds.

Positive thinking has its origins in scripture. Solomon once wrote “as a man thinks in his heart so it is he.” Jesus said, “as your faith is so be it unto you.” The Apostle Paul declared, “be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Repentance, in its simplest definition means to have a change of mind. In other words, quit thinking thoughts that are causing you to fail, and begin instead to think positive, uplifting thoughts that will lead you to success.

Thinking in a positive manner is the result of making a conscious decision to do so. It is a skill that can be developed over time. You can train and discipline yourself to be optimistic.

Choose today to clear your mind of negative thoughts and determine to replace them with positive, faith-filled thoughts. Begin to focus on what can be, instead of what now is.

Be Kind and Considerate

Mean spirited, manipulative people seldom enjoy success over the long haul. Bullying people, acting as a dictator, forcing people to do things your way or the highway, seldom produces respect and honor in others. In fact people resent aggressive, hard to get along with, domineering personalities.

As a young man my mother told me, “You’ll catch more flies with honey that you will with vinegar.” I have never forgotten this truth. I have seen firsthand the value of treating others with kindness and being considerate of their feelings.

The quickest way to earn the respect of others is to treat them with respect. Honor others for their abilities, knowledge and opinions. Praise them for their accomplishments. Celebrate their personal victories.

People will go to the ends of the earth for you if you treat them with kindness. There is something almost magical that happens when others know they are appreciated and needed.


“Be kind one to another.”(Ephesians 4:32)

Keys to Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a much-needed ingredient for personal success. It is an inner passion that drives a person forward. Personal motivation comes from enthusiasm. Being enthusiastic about your project inspires others to become involved in what you're doing.

The ability to become, and stay enthused about a given project, vision, or idea, energizes a person. It causes a person to be motivated to action. It is a proven fact that people who are enthusiastic about what they are doing get more done. They are more productive because they enjoy what they are doing.

Being enthusiastic does not mean that you won't face difficult times. The fact is, regardless of what you are doing or desiring to do, you will face obstacles and adversity. Enthusiasm keeps you going in tough times.

The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek roots " en" and "theos" and means "God within." It is a fire, a passion within. Real enthusiasm is not something you "put on" and "take off" to fit the occasion. It is a way of life.

The following seven keys will help you be more enthusiastic.

Have a clear vision of where you are going and what you want to accomplish.

It is impossible to become or stay motivated without a vision. King Solomon wrote, "Without a vision, the people perish." Enthusiastic people are those who know where they are going and how they are going to get there.

Be totally committed to your vision.

Commitment to your vision is essential to enthusiasm. Many people fail in life, not because they don't have a vision, but because they are not committed to it. Robert Schuller says, "Irrevocable commitments that offer no loopholes, no bail-out provisions, and no parachute clauses, will extract incredible productivity and performance.

Focus on the end result everyday.

Stephen Covey says that one of the habits no successful people is "they begin with the end insight." It is easy to become distracted by the everyday problems and obstacles of life. Losing focus of the end result will frustrate you can cause you to lose enthusiasm. When you see your enthusiasm starting to wane, refocus on what you want to accomplish and where you're going.

See it accomplished in your mind’s eye.

Train yourself to see the job finished, by faith, before it actually is. Visualize how things will be when the project is finished. Strong faith, belief that what you're doing will be successful, is vital to being enthusiastic.

Talk about it.

Verbalize your vision. Notice that enthusiastic people usually talk lower and faster than people whom aren't. Become animated and passionate about your vision.

Go on a crusade.

What is your mission in life? If you could accomplish anything in the world, what would it be? Now, determine to do it. MADD was born out of a tragedy. A mother whose child was killed by a drunk driver used the tragedy as a springboard to launch a crusade against drunk driving. Her enthusiasm has motivated thousands of others to become involved in putting a stop to drunk driving. Untold numbers of lives have been saved because of her enthusiasm.

Hang around other enthusiastic people.

Enthusiasm is contagious. It rubs off on the others. Hanging around excited people helps to ignite your passion. Get away from negative people. Start associating with people that are successful. Allow their enthusiasm to inspire you.

Success in Life is Like Growing a Garden

As a young man growing up in East Texas I tried my hand at gardening. I had a vision of a garden that would produce vegetables my family could enjoy as well being able to sell what we couldn’t eat for a profit. I had seen others grow productive gardens so I believed it was possible for me to do the same thing. I sat down with my father and together we came up with a plan for making my vision a reality. With money I earned from my paper route I bought all kinds of tomato plants and different kinds of packages of seed of vegetables I wanted to grow. My father borrowed a friend’s rotor tiller and we spent a few hours preparing the soil for the garden. Then we proceeded to plant the seeds and tomato plants. Every day I worked in that garden. I made sure it was watered, fertilized, and weeded. I put up a scarecrow to keep the birds away. I got sunburned and developed blisters on my hands. It was hard work, working in the heat and all, but I knew it would be worth it if I didn’t quit. In the end, not only did I receive a harvest for my hard work, I learned some valuable lessons that have stayed with me my entire life.

First of all, I learned the importance of having a vision of what you want to accomplish. Everything around you, whether it’s the house you live in, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the job you work, or the church you attend, started as a vision in someone’s mind. We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision or lack thereof. Helen Keller, who was both blind and death, once said, “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” She’s right. Vision is what inspires us to do what we do. It is what motivates us to action. It is what gets us up in the morning. Former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, says “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” I meet a lot of people that are just running in circles never going anywhere. Why? Because they don’t have a vision of where they want to go and what they want to accomplish. Do you have a vision of what you want to accomplish? If not, you need one, if you are going to win in life.

Second, I believed it was possible for me to grow a productive garden. I had seen others, with no more talent than me, grow luscious bountiful produce. My dad encouraged me. He told me he believed I could do it. His encouragement helped to strengthen my belief. If your vision, whatever it is, is going to become a reality you have to believe it with all your heart. A strong belief in what is going to be, keeps you going when the going gets tough. I’ll have to admit, there were times I didn’t want to work in that garden. There were all kinds of obstacles I had to overcome. The sun was too hot, at first I couldn’t see the results of my labor, I was tired, my muscles ached, my hands were blistered, my friends were going swimming or playing baseball and I couldn’t join them because I had responsibilities. But my belief in my vision and in the finished product kept me going when I wanted to quit. During this process I learned if you have a strong enough belief you can accomplish whatever you want. Jesus taught, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.” Do you believe in your vision? No I mean do you REALLY believe in your vision?

Third, I learned the value of planning and preparation. Everyone enjoys the end result, the finished product, but few want to go through the planning and preparation stage of a project. My father taught me that if I wanted to be successful gardener it was important to “Plan my work and work my plan.” I wanted to just run out and plant some seed. But, he told me I needed to sit down and plan out exactly what I wanted. I had to figure out what I wanted to grow, where I wanted to plant the seeds, how deep to till the soil, what kind of fertilizer I would need, what the watering schedule was going to be, etc. So, we took out a piece of paper and proceeded to make a plan of action. We plotted out everything necessary for me to grow the garden. We made a list of everything I needed. We even went so far as to draw out a diagram of what would be planted where. Remember what Jesus taught about planning? He said, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.” (Luke 14:28) Planning and preparation always precede productivity. Do you have a plan of action for making your vision a reality? “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now” says Alan Lakein. If you want it you have to plan it!

Fourth, I learned the value of working smart and working hard work. I like to say, “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” In life you can’t have positive results without positive effort. I learned if you have a vision, believe in what you are doing, make proper plans and preparation, and work hard you can accomplish anything you want. When you are doing something you believe in, I learned that work can be fun. Somebody wrote a book one time entitled, “Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow.” This gardening thing was fun for me. I enjoyed working the garden because I knew in the end I was going to be able to enjoy the fruit of my labor. Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Are you working smart and hard at what you want to accomplish? If not, why not? Contrary to what some would have you believe, nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. If you want it you have to work for it!

Fifth, I learned that if you want a harvest you have to plant seeds. This is a principle that is talked about all through the Bible. It is the law of sowing and reaping. It is the fundamental principle that all of life is built on. In the natural we call it the law of cause and effect. I learned if I wanted to reap watermelons I had to plant watermelon seeds. If I wanted carrots I had to plant carrot seeds. And so on. I couldn’t plant radish seeds expecting to get carrots. I had to put in the ground exactly what I wanted to put on my plate! Before I could reap the benefits of my garden I had to sow the right seeds and the right effort. What kind of seeds are sowing in your life?

Parts six through ten tomorrow!