This was in my mailbox. Perhaps a 'wake up' call. Read on fellow traveler and follow the link.......
"..Life doesn't always go according to plan, but with the right attitude and skills, you can persevere through even the toughest situations - and emerge stronger and better than ever.
The Five Commitments
When life blindsides you, it feels like you've been knocked off your path and into a ditch. What determines whether you stay in the ditch or climb out is how you choose to think about your circumstances while you are going through them. To climb out of the ditch and step onto a level path, you need to come to an agreement with yourself, to make a personal commitment that will transform your thinking and, ultimately, your life.
So as we begin this journey together, I ask you to commit to five simple rules about your thinking. No matter what your circumstances, the Five Commitments will serve as guiding principles for ever)' step of your recovery, preventing you from straying onto paths of doubt or despair.
Commitment 1: I Will Not Feel Sorry for Myself For a person who has suffered a setback, few things are more debilitating than self-pity. Feeling sorry for yourself makes you a victim rather than a victor. Worse, self-pity gives you an excuse to stay right where you are - to let regret and fear hold you hostage. Certainly there is a time to be sad and a time to mourn; these are appropriate, healthy responses to a setback. But there is no time to wallow.
Commitment 2: I Will Not Stare at the Closed Door
Letting go of the past is a necessary precursor to moving forward. It is tempting to think fondly of what used to be - to believe that life cannot be fulfilling or worthwhile without that relationship, that job, that role, that measure of success you've now lost. If you are so focused on staring at the closed door that you refuse to face forward, you'll never discover the open doors that lie ahead.
Commitment 3: I Will Dig Deep to Unearth All the Courage I Need Without courage, a person knocked off course and into a ditch will stay there. Being afraid of making a wrong move, getting hurt, being embarrassed, or facing the future will paralyze you from taking action. The comeback process requires you to muster a great deal of courage. You need courage to believe better days are ahead. You need courage to ask for help. You need courage to let go of the past and deal with the uncertainty of the future. You need courage to start over - to take steps forward despite your fears. You may want to post 1 Corinthians 16:13 somewhere you'll see it often: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."
Commitment 4: I Will Direct My Thoughts - My Thoughts Will Not Direct Me
The difference between those who come back strong and those who wither is how they think - or, more precisely, how well they are able to manage self-sabotaging thoughts. Later we'll look more closely at the significant ways your thoughts influence your mood, motivation, and actions. For now, keep in mind this key principle: resilient people choose to think differently. They believe they can bounce back, and that belief leads them to take positive action toward their recovery.
Commitment 5: I Will Choose to Relieve All Things Work Together for Good
In the midst of a storm, it can be hard to believe anything good will come. But it will. Sometimes it takes years to see what God is doing in a particular situation, but with patience, time, and faith, the good becomes more obvious. Choosing to believe that God is orchestrating the final outcome for good can provide the motivation you need to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds.
Read through the Five Commitments once more, and then make them part of your own personal comeback plan. To signify your commitment, photocopy the section below, then sign it to establish your pact with yourself. Post this contract wherever it will serve as a daily reminder of your choice to move forward......"
Thanks Valorie Burton
(Click on the link to read the full article)
"..Life doesn't always go according to plan, but with the right attitude and skills, you can persevere through even the toughest situations - and emerge stronger and better than ever.
The Five Commitments
When life blindsides you, it feels like you've been knocked off your path and into a ditch. What determines whether you stay in the ditch or climb out is how you choose to think about your circumstances while you are going through them. To climb out of the ditch and step onto a level path, you need to come to an agreement with yourself, to make a personal commitment that will transform your thinking and, ultimately, your life.
So as we begin this journey together, I ask you to commit to five simple rules about your thinking. No matter what your circumstances, the Five Commitments will serve as guiding principles for ever)' step of your recovery, preventing you from straying onto paths of doubt or despair.
Commitment 1: I Will Not Feel Sorry for Myself For a person who has suffered a setback, few things are more debilitating than self-pity. Feeling sorry for yourself makes you a victim rather than a victor. Worse, self-pity gives you an excuse to stay right where you are - to let regret and fear hold you hostage. Certainly there is a time to be sad and a time to mourn; these are appropriate, healthy responses to a setback. But there is no time to wallow.
Commitment 2: I Will Not Stare at the Closed Door
Letting go of the past is a necessary precursor to moving forward. It is tempting to think fondly of what used to be - to believe that life cannot be fulfilling or worthwhile without that relationship, that job, that role, that measure of success you've now lost. If you are so focused on staring at the closed door that you refuse to face forward, you'll never discover the open doors that lie ahead.
Commitment 3: I Will Dig Deep to Unearth All the Courage I Need Without courage, a person knocked off course and into a ditch will stay there. Being afraid of making a wrong move, getting hurt, being embarrassed, or facing the future will paralyze you from taking action. The comeback process requires you to muster a great deal of courage. You need courage to believe better days are ahead. You need courage to ask for help. You need courage to let go of the past and deal with the uncertainty of the future. You need courage to start over - to take steps forward despite your fears. You may want to post 1 Corinthians 16:13 somewhere you'll see it often: "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."
Commitment 4: I Will Direct My Thoughts - My Thoughts Will Not Direct Me
The difference between those who come back strong and those who wither is how they think - or, more precisely, how well they are able to manage self-sabotaging thoughts. Later we'll look more closely at the significant ways your thoughts influence your mood, motivation, and actions. For now, keep in mind this key principle: resilient people choose to think differently. They believe they can bounce back, and that belief leads them to take positive action toward their recovery.
Commitment 5: I Will Choose to Relieve All Things Work Together for Good
In the midst of a storm, it can be hard to believe anything good will come. But it will. Sometimes it takes years to see what God is doing in a particular situation, but with patience, time, and faith, the good becomes more obvious. Choosing to believe that God is orchestrating the final outcome for good can provide the motivation you need to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds.
Read through the Five Commitments once more, and then make them part of your own personal comeback plan. To signify your commitment, photocopy the section below, then sign it to establish your pact with yourself. Post this contract wherever it will serve as a daily reminder of your choice to move forward......"
Thanks Valorie Burton
(Click on the link to read the full article)
