Thursday, March 28, 2024

A Five-Step Mind-Set for Moving Forward.

May 5, 2016 by  
Filed under Christian Talk, Health, News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) There are few people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Most of us have come or are coming up the rough side of the mountain.  We have had our share of disappointments, setbacks and letdowns. If your goals have not been achieved and your dreams have been shattered; if you have seen the downside of up far too many times, I want you to know you are in the right place for empowerment. You are poised to move forward.

The Creator has already given you the tools for success. You have within you what the eminent professor Jan Christian Smuts called the ‘power of self-direction’.   This God-given power allows you to learn from your mistakes, rise above your circumstances and live victoriously. Are you ready to move forward?

You are empowered. You are enabled. Follow this simple five-step road-map to think, live and move forward!

Step#1

Assume Responsibility for Where You Are

In the creation narrative, the Creator rouses Adam from his 123-blackmandeepthought-2016circumstances with a simple yet profound question, “Adam, where are you?” I believe God essentially does likewise with us at the dawn of each day we awaken; God asks us, “Where are you”?

Your answer invariably requires that you be brutally honest with yourself. Never mind where others believe you to be, where are you?  What’s working or not working? When you answer this question, do not attach judgment. Do not lament your circumstance.  There are not too many people who are exactly where they want to be in life. Resolutely declare that the buck stops here! George Bernard Shaw writes, We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.

Step#2

 Influence Do Not Control

Do a quick inventory of your life. Look back at the events and experiences you were able to control versus influence. I think you will agree that the happiest of moments came when you were able to influence rather than control events in your life. Here’s the principle: What we invent can be controlled. What was invented outside of us can only be influenced.

You can control only one thing in life that matters: Your attitude. The sooner you learn that important distinction, the more rewarding life you will experience. Orison Swett Marden long ago wrote, The man who practices unselfishness will be an everlasting influence wherever he goes.

Step#3

Determine Where you Wish to Go

What is the life you imagine? What do you want? Where would you like to end up? See the end result and begin there. Do not allow yourself to be defined by others. Most people are too often shaped by opinions.  In effect, they are living their ‘assigned’ dream – the dream that others have designed for them. Don’t let that be you! Time to dream on your own. Develop a vision for your life. Never mind what’s happened behind you. It’s time to get an idea of where you want to go. Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others, writes Jonathan Swift. There is value in culling ideas from others; do not be afraid to seek counsel. In the end, though, you must make the determination that is best for your life.

Step#4

Stop Waiting for the Calvary

The Calvary is not coming! Nobody is coming to rescue you. A huge mental cottage industry has been constructed in our community that we are simply to wait and wait and wait. Too often God is used as a crutch; we keep saying we are waiting on God. God is constantly asking ‘what’s your move?’ I am reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King’s seminal book at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Why We Can’t Wait. Develop your own personal declaration of ‘why I can’t wait’! Do not confuse the Creator’s wisdom and providence for inactivity and the attitude of ‘do nothing’. Stand up and a move forward like the conqueror you are! W. Clement Stone opined, Thinking will not overcome fear but action will.

Step#5

Keep Moving

What lies ahead? Look for potential roadblocks as well as victories. But be careful not to allow obstacles to become reasons for not moving. As one street sign puts, “Don’t park here.

What do you have to do to get past the roadblocks? Make a plan. Execute it again and again and again. Retool it if need be. Re-launch and keep moving. Too many people become unnerved when they cannot see two steps ahead. But, as a headlight is designed to illuminate the next one hundred sixty feet, so must you trust your instinct and know that the path is always illuminated – even in our darkest hours.

In Luke 9:62, Jesus Christ admonishes, No man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.

We have inside of us everything we need to think, live and move forward in life!

Staff Writer; W. Eric Croomes

This talented brother is a holistic lifestyle exercise expert and founder and executive coach of Infinite Strategies LLC, a multi-level coaching firm that develops and executes strategies for fitness training, youth achievement and lifestyle management. Eric is an author, fitness professional, holistic life coach and motivational speaker.

In October 2015, Eric released Life’s A Gym: Seven Fitness Principles to Get the Best of Both, which shows readers how to use exercise to attract a feeling of wellness, success and freedom (Infinite Strategies Coaching LLC, 2015) – http://www.infinitefitnesscoaching.com.


Comments

One Response to “A Five-Step Mind-Set for Moving Forward.”
  1. Rob says:

    I just wanna get something off my chest. I don’t even want this to be published!!

    I am a mixed guy from Germany….proud of my African heritage…not denieing my european one…..

    I read this article with great interest…not onyl that….also the Holy Spirit was touching me while reading……guess it’s because I am on a transition point in life……anyway

    What realy realy bothers is….I was clicking the link to see this brothers webpage…..and tzhe link is not even workin….

    But what realy bothered me….is the extra cheap webpage of this higly praised brother!!!!

    How can you present yourself with such a cheap internet presence…..

    I believe you are a smart brother….I believe you are a sophisticated brother….I believe you do your work very professionell….how comes your homepage DO NOT RESEMBLE your great attitude???

    I am mad cause this is the 2nd time in few days I stumbled over cheap webpages from highly praised black intellectualls!!!

    I was on HBCU Sports days ago….the author was an award winning journalist….he had an article over undraftet free agents who got signed….and it was a simple list with names….and the positions were not even mentioned……I mean…c’mon….

    if you wanna be respected by not only white america….sometimes you gotta earn respect…..If you are a highly praised black entrepreneur and your webpage looks like it was made in the 80’s…what does it say about black entrepreneurs???

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