What Happens When You Name It & Claim It?

I'm not a "name it and claim it" sort of character. That if I imagine it, say it out loud, journal it, share it with others and expect it, that it will come true.

Faith is important. Faith in God, faith in those we trust dearly, faith in our most discerned, tried, and true foundations. Faith beyond the material.

Hope is vital. Hope grounded in reality: spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. Hope in what is good and true and pure and that we would have a place in it. Hope doesn't come natural for me either. I have to seek it out in Scripture, in history, in stories, in dreams...

Perseverance is key. To push long and hard toward a singular, wise, and credible goal (no matter how unlikely).

And all of this wrapped up in a picture, an image, a vision of what could be if I would only remain faithful, hopeful, and perseverant.

Name it? Absolutely. Clarity is important.

But who knows if it'll work out. And if it does, be grateful. If it doesn't? Well, what can you learn from it as you move toward your next goal?

Anyone Can Wait for Motivation...

Some only need to plan the big picture before they dive in and then free-wheel it throughout the duration of the project.

Others need to plan the big picture as well as the nooks and crannies in between. The start date and the release date. The working hours. The blocks of time within each day and the elements being worked on within those blocks.

Yeah, you can wing it only when motivation strikes. Lots of people do that. Lots of people never actually see their goals spring to life either.

Or you can plan it one way or another. Big or small. Motivated or mundane, and build the project one decision, one hour, one element at a time.

Anyone can wait for motivation. But those who create just go build it.

Decide, Don't Demand

I'm good at demanding.

It's easy to demand.

To demand that my schedule work out a certain way. To demand that my kids act or respond a certain way. To demand that a project turn out a certain way. To demand that my faith develops in a certain way. To demand that the world around moves and grows and understands and evolves in certain ways.

In reality, it doesn't work. And even when my demands are met, it doesn't work for the long run or for the betterment of my family, career or faith. It's selfish and it's destructive.

On the other hand, when I decide... when I decide to arrange my schedule; when I decide to journey alongside my kids as a guide, protector, leader; when I decide to engage my faith according to words of my God; when I decide to enter the world standing firm on my values, principles and pursuits... well, my decisions reach further with greater impact and eternally more joy than my demands ever will.

Are you demanding or deciding?