Predeciding and The Crooked Path
- jimhlifecoach
- Jan 28
- 26 min read
Drawing A Line in the Sand
In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey states that all things are created twice. He is referring to the fact that everything is created first in the mind, and then in reality. Before you build a house, you first design it, draw blueprints, and imagine how it will look. Before you write a book, you outline the ideas and envision the message. These are examples of Mental or First Creations. We create first in our minds.
Dr Covey is quoted as saying, “People are working harder than ever, but because they lack
clarity and vision, they aren’t getting very far. They, in essence, are pushing a rope with all of their might.” Imagine trying to push a rope. There is no tension. All of your attempts will be futile to get anywhere. Exertion is useless without clarity, a vision, and a plan.
In my book, Back On The Crooked Path, I stated that we create first in our minds and then we implement. This truth is very important as we seek to live authentic lives aligned with our purpose. Before you live the kind of life you want, you visualize it, define what matters most, and set goals. This stage is about vision, imagination, and intentional planning.
Once the mental “blueprint” or vision is clear, then you are ready to take action to bring it into reality in the physical world. Construct the house, write the book, or live your life. These are the second creations.
If we don’t take responsibility for the first creations in our lives, then someone else will. If we don’t own our paths, then our paths will own us. Circumstances, habits, or other people will end up shaping our reality, or our second creations. We will end up living the narratives that someone else has handed us. Our parents, our friends, our co-workers, and others. We will be sucked up in the current and not be in control of navigating our own paths. We will be living someone else's script, and not our own.
It Is About Living Today With a Clear Picture of What is Ahead of Us
It is deciding that your life won’t be shaped by impulse or pressure in the moment, but by a vision of where you are going and where you would like to end up.
Consider how the idea of First and Second Creation applies to our earliest days and
development as children. Our early years are heavily influenced by our parents, our teachers, and the community and culture in which we live and are being raised. The stories that children hear about who they are act like mental blueprints. Affirming stories such as “You are so smart... You are worthy... You are capable...” And the negative stories such as “You are a troublemaker... You can’t do it... You will never succeed...” These are the stories, good or bad, that are handed to us as children.
Based on the stories that they are told, a child gradually forms their self-image and beliefs. They form their own internal mental map. They form their own sense of identity, values, and what they believe is possible. A child who is affirmed, encouraged, and given opportunities to try, fail, and grow is more likely to form a positive vision of themselves as resilient and capable. Those who are put down, discouraged, and criticized are more likely to have a poor vision of themselves. Feeling unworthy, anxious, and fearful.
As they develop and get older, children begin to consciously imagine their future and what they would like to do or be as an adult. Become a teacher... A professional athlete... A business owner... They may want to travel the world, become a musician, or help those in need. This is how children form their first creations.
As the child moves towards adulthood, the mental images that were formed and that they carry guide their choices, habits, and relationships. They live out their blueprint. A child who internalized a belief in their own worth and all of the possibilities is more likely to take risks, pursue meaningful work, and build healthy connections. And those who developed an unhealthy image of themselves are more likely to struggle, to be fearful, and uncertain. Either way, they live out their second creations.
As a child moves towards adulthood, they gradually take responsibility for their lives. And if
the first creation handed to them was negative or limiting in any way, they now will have an opportunity to redesign that blueprint. As adults we have the responsibility and the obligation to do that for ourselves if we are feeling in any way off course. This is where self-awareness and intentionality become so important. The Triangle of Change... Desire, Motivation, and intentional and aligned Action.
As an adult, you can stop living someone else's design. The story and blueprint that was handed to you that no longer, and likely never, fit. Instead, you can choose to consciously create your own vision. You can change the script and rewrite the story.
There is a first creation to every aspect of our lives. There is a program that is running our operating systems. And we are the programmer of what is running our lives. And we are either proactively monitoring, reviewing, adjusting, and rewriting our own programs, or the program is running us. You either own your path, or you do not. And the results that you get with each approach are as different as night and day.
So, how do you go about changing the script? How do you start changing the narrative and begin rewriting your story? First of all, you must realize that you are fully capable of doing it. Between what has happened, or is happening, to you and your response to that, you have the freedom to choose your response. That script or that story that has been handed to you? The one that you are living out right now? The one that is misaligned? The one that you don’t like? You can keep living it and keep getting the same results. Or you can press pause and choose to do something different.
You have the unique human capabilities of Self-Awareness, Creativity, Discernment, and
Drive which allow you to not only realize how and why you are where you are, but they allow you to imagine and choose new, better, and more aligned paths forward, and to forge those paths towards a meaningful and purposeful life.
When we are feeling off course, stuck, or like something is just not quite right, we are misaligned. We are living the wrong story, playing the wrong part, or doing things that are totally incongruent with who we are and what we desire.
Imagine having what you thought was your dream job, or living what you thought was your dream life. And then a time comes when you are going through your regular day to day routine, but a question keeps coming to you that you can’t seem to shake. Maybe you have been hearing this for a while, and it keeps coming and it gets louder and louder. And the question is... What is it that you are not seeing here? What are you not willing to see? And the answer that you have been avoiding is that you don’t love your job, your situation, your relationship, your path in life... This isn’t your dream after all. And now there is a decision that you have to make. What is it that you want to do? Are you willing to settle? What is your gift? Are you using it? What is your competence? Are you compromising?
By Settling, You Are in the Shadow of Compromise
You may be having success. You are recognized as being successful. Even your closest friends may not suspect that anything is off with you. You are receiving recognition and validation. And that feeds your ego to help you feel important and that you matter. But in truth you are giving your competence to a path that is misaligned for you. It is likely aligned for someone else, but it is not your authentic path. By owning your path and taking responsibility, you will get clarity. And if you are being honest with yourself, you will see that it is time for a change. This is not an easy decision. But you need to make the most aligned decision for you. And that is to leave what is not meant for you, and seek what is.
Your task is to seek alignment and congruence in your life. Something that gives your life meaning. And to do that, you really need to determine what matters most to you. This was the essence of Back On The Crooked Path. Imagine how you would feel and the difference it would make in your life and the lives of others, if you managed each day focusing on what matters most.
Life is full of decisions... big and small... that shape who we become. And the key to living with purpose and integrity isn’t found in the moment, but before it, through predeciding. The power to predecide comes from knowing your purpose. This power to draw the line in the sand comes from knowing your purpose.
Predeciding is the act of deciding in advance to commit to a specific course of action, or to
look at things through a specific mindset. Especially those recurring moments and difficult situations. You predecide how you will approach it, how you will handle it, and what your answers will be. It is about taking a stand and setting your direction in advance, when you are calm and things are clear, rather than in the heat of the moment. When you predecide, you can stay committed to your values and what matters most. You prevent short-term impulses from derailing your long-term goals and vision.
Do you know where you are going to? You may be moving, but where? What are you moving towards? What drives you? You may be busy, but it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Getting caught up in the maze of activities that lead to empty victories. You feel that incongruence, the misalignment, and the hollowness inside, and it is not supposed to feel this way.
Maybe you cannot say what you value. You haven’t defined it. You haven’t thought of it. Some values are obvious and even go without saying. We say we value our children, our parents, our family, and our friends... Just to name a few examples. But we don’t always see or live those values. We get caught up in things that ultimately don’t matter. The things that matter most to us submerge and are pushed down, while the urgent issues, relentless problems, and other people’s agendas rise and stare us down. As a result, the way we act towards and attend to those people and things that we say we value may display very little similarity to how important and dear they are to us.
The book of Proverbs in the Bible states that, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Maybe not physically, although certainly that could happen. But they perish emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. Without vision, people are unrestrained. It is not so much the fight that you had last night with your spouse, as much as it is the lack of focus and vision that you have for your marriage. It isn’t the getting lost in the scrolling, the mindless channel surfing, or the various escapes that we have from reality, as much as it is the lack of vision we have for what we value, what we stand for, where we are going, how to get there, and who we want to be.
Without Vision, There is No GPS. There is No Google Maps
There is no inner compass that directs your way. And when you don’t have that, there are no boundaries. You go whichever way the wind is blowing. Nothing is really restraining you. Nothing is directing you. You may just live life to the fullest. Live it for now because that is all there is.
When you predecide to pursue your purpose, you live differently. You live with clarity. You choose consistency. And you move with intention. You really need to take the time to work out and decide who and where you want to be. You have the power to choose your own behavior and to behave in accordance with your own value system, and not in reaction to other people's agendas or other people’s expectations of you. To protect you from people saying that you should have done this, you shouldn’t have said that and asking why are you doing this other thing.
You are invited to define this for yourself. You can pause where you are right now, and you
can look down the road to what awaits you at the end, and you can picture what matters most to you and how you want to be remembered. And you can begin right now to live from that vision. You can predecide what your path will look like. Your approach to decisions. Your responses to what life throws at you. Your priorities. All of these things can be shaped by your purpose.
You have the full capability to make the necessary changes to your path. And if you find yourself in a situation of misalignment, it really is your obligation to take responsibility and make some changes. You owe that to yourself and all of those people you love, and things you value. You can keep your eyes forward looking to your boundless future, rather than the burdens and distractions of your past. You are the owner of your story, your path, and your life.
But you need to get your values clear. You are the artist, the writer, and the director of your story. That means you likely have to do some editing and rearranging to ensure that your story flows consistent with who you truly are. It also means that it is essential that you have what matters most to you in the forefront of your mind. Reminding yourself daily because when we are certain of what matters most in our lives, we can make all key decisions and face the challenges of the day based on those values. That is the lens through which we see the day and our lives. That is the filter that everything we encounter will run through. You make value-driven decisions. You don’t react, cave, or compromise. Because what you value and what is important to you is clear. You act with integrity, and that propels you forward on your path.
If You Let Someone Else Define Your Life, They Will
If you let something else define your life, it will. And it will do it gladly. So it is about time that you started to define your life for yourself. Consider the power of having your values clear and ingrained in you. It gives you so much clarity and certainty in the heat of the moment.
A helpful way of determining your values is considering different scenarios you might encounter and deciding, in each case, what you would do. Kind of like the game Scruples, only this is not a party game. This exercise forces you to move from abstract ideals to concrete choices, which is where your values truly show themselves. Someone might say they value honesty, loyalty, or kindness, but when faced with a realistic situation that tests those values, their answers start to reveal what is truly important to them.
For example, you value integrity, and you find a wallet with no ID that contains five hundred dollars. What would you do? Or you value loyalty, and a friend at work asks you to cover for them after they made a mistake that could cost them their job. Do you protect them or tell the truth? Or you value family, and you have just been given an opportunity at work that will raise your profile, but it involves being away from your family for months at a time. What would you do?
Imagining scenarios like this is like drawing a line in the sand. And when you encounter anything similar in reality, it is almost like you have predecided your response. That doesn't mean that your response is a forgone conclusion. There will be other variables to consider, and it may not make the decision any easier because, let's face it, hard decisions are hard. But at least you know where you stand and what your initial response would be. It is the base on which you stand. And you can make your decision with integrity. And if you adjust from your initial response, you know that you make that choice with integrity as well, based on the unique circumstances of the situation.
We all know that life is full of decisions. Big ones and small ones, that shape who we
become. But consider it this way... What if the key to living according to what matters most isn’t just found in the heat of the moment, but before it?
It is the power of predeciding our values and what matters most. It is making wise value-driven choices before we are in the heat of the moment. Whether it is choosing self-control before temptation strikes, or generosity before the need arises, or perseverance before the pressure mounts. It is about being intentional with our decisions each day, so that we can live out our first creations. To become the second creations that we were truly meant to be.
We make thousands of decisions each day, believe it or not. Many of them may be automatic and subconscious. But imagine the conscious decisions that we have to make each day and each week. Decisions regarding our children, our families, and ourselves. After a while they all stack up, and they can start to become imposing and overwhelming. But when our values are clear, that is what will shine through.
It is important to take the time to know yourself. Really knowing yourself. Because when you know who you are, you can be clear about your goals. You can chase the dreams that are actually yours. Not the ones that the world has handed you. You can stand firm in your own standards and live by your own convictions. Knowing yourself is not selfish. It is freedom. And it allows you to move through life with purpose, with meaning, and with confidence. So, ask yourself today... Do you really know you?
The greatest work you’ll ever do is within yourself. When you know who you are, you stop living on autopilot and start living with intention. Take time. Get curious. Ask the hard questions. You are worth knowing.
You Can Decide Today How Your Future Will Look Tomorrow
I encourage you to choose the thing today that will bring you hope for tomorrow. A way to look at it is this... The sum total of who you are today is a result of decisions you made yesterday. If we are being honest, we acknowledge this. We all have regrets based on decisions that that we did make, or decisions that we did not make. We have all made terrible choices at some point in our lives. Sometimes we simply make the wrong choice. Sometimes we are so afraid of making the wrong choice, that we don’t make that choice. We don’t make a decision... Which actually is a choice. We let emotions overrule logic, or logic overrule emotions. We get caught up in the repeated patterns of making bad decisions. Our brain predecides that we will make these choices because that is what it knows. That is what it has been programmed to do. But the good news is that we can change the program.
There are many people who have made bad choices in their past, or when they were young,
and they are still paying the price for them. Just like a motorboat, your decisions leave a wake. Private decisions often have public ramifications. And young adults who are still in school, university, or starting out on their careers are faced with some of the most important decisions that they will ever make in their lives. Decisions regarding purity, integrity, faithfulness... If you fast-forward your life to what it could become, you will see that behavior always predicts outcomes. What we do now, always has a consequence later. What we did then, has consequences now. That is how it works. And looking back on our lives, we can see that. We can see the jetstream left by all of the decisions, good and bad, that we have made.
So, if we draw the line in the sand today... If we determine what matters most to us today, it will have the power to give us hope for tomorrow. Because the future always demands more than the past. It doesn’t get easier. But you get stronger. You get wiser. You get better. And part of that is you gearing up for the battle with your values firmly in your mind. It doesn’t prevent the storms from coming, but it prepares you for them. When you predecide what matters most to you, you may not know what is coming, but you are ready for it. Your heart is right. Your mind is right. And when that is the case, then you can navigate almost any issue you might face. Anything that comes your way.
There is power in predeciding. When you are certain of your values, you don’t have to panic in the heat of the moment when there is opposition, confusion, chaos, and temptation. When your obedience to your values has already been decided, there is no room for anything else to take root. If you wait until the challenging moment to decide what to do, and your values are not clear, fear and compromise will often win out. Intimidation will almost always take over and you will shrink back.
In The Heat of the Moment
It is so important to know what matters most and what your values are and have the courage to stand by them. In the moment of decision, it will keep you from so many bad choices. When we make decisions with our values clear, when the heat comes, we may disappoint some people. But you are being true to you. And that is a big win. And you can look back on your decision and know that you made it from a position of strength and not weakness. There will be moments ahead of you where cutting corners feels easier. Where being popular is so enticing. Where compromise seems like the only way forward, and where your authenticity doesn’t feel that attractive. But what if you decided today that obedience to yourself and to your soul is more important than popularity or success in the eyes of others? When you truly pre-decide, you will always find courage in the moment because the battle has already been won in your heart.
There are times in our lives when we may have no plan. No picture of what is to come. No vision. No first creation. We are empty. But what if that emptiness is really the nudge that we need? An empty container sounds different than one that is full. Knock on the side of an empty container and you will hear a hollow sound. Maybe an echo. A sound that is louder and perhaps higher pitched. One that vibrates and reverberates. Tap an empty bottle with a spoon and it will sound much different than a bottle filled with water.
Emptiness inside of us is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as we are aware of what that
means. The hollowness, the vibration, and the echoing of the still small voice inside of you is really a signal to return to your true self and seek the guidance you need. And that could be an unknown space for you. You may have never been there before. You have been seeking fulfillment outside of you, when the answers are really inside. When you look inward, that is where you will meet your soul. That is where you will meet God’s / the universe’s / Source’s blueprint for your life. You need to step into the unknown and trust that that is what you will meet there.
Restlessness is the seed of transformation. It is proof you are ready to rise beyond routine and shape a new chapter of your life. Restlessness signifies a fundamental human drive toward growth, marking a point of discomfort that prompts re-evaluation and the emergence of new possibilities for change and transformation. This feeling suggests a misalignment with current circumstances, creating an inner pull to find more fulfilling, authentic ways of being, much like a seed that pushes against the soil to grow. Acknowledging this discomfort is the first step toward embracing a new path, whether in one's career, relationships, or personal life, leading to innovation, deeper fulfillment, and a more value-aligned existence.
Restlessness signifies a need for change. The inner understanding that your current situation is no longer sufficient or sustainable, leading to a desire for something more. A desire for a more meaningful life. A shift from unfulfilling careers, relationships, or routines towards seeking deeper purpose and choices aligned with your values. Restlessness is a sign that it is time to explore and grow.
The Point is To Become and Not To Find
But you will not find what you are looking for out there. It is already inside of you. It already exists inside of you. You have to get to that point of surrender. It is that point where you finally realize that everything you have been striving for and seeking to find outside of you in the world cannot be found there. Everything you are seeking to become and to find is already inside of you. If you are seeking love, love is already inside of you. If you are seeking wholeness, wholeness and worthiness is already inside of you. If you are seeking peace, peace is already inside of you. Everything that you are looking for cannot be found out there. It is in you, and it must be embodied. The point is to become, and not to find.
And often that is why we get off course, get stuck, and wander. Sometimes that is why we crash and burn and hit rock bottom. Because we have been looking for what is already inside of us, outside of us. When you truly surrender, that is when things will manifest in your life. It is your choice.
Stepping into the unknown may feel uncomfortable, but it is in those uncomfortable moments where our soul can whisper words into our hearts. Words that will carry us. Those words are really seeds of faith planted into our hearts. The seeds of who we are, what matters most, and why we are here.
And seeds get buried before they grow. They get buried under doubt, fear, guilt, the noise
of the world, our ego, and the inaccurate narratives that have been handed to us about ourselves. They get buried under imposter syndrome. We experience a gap between what we are experiencing and what we desire. We see a gap between who we are and who we need to be. And we have no idea how to bridge that gap. We may feel that we can’t do it. The gap may feel too big.
You feel a stretch between your ability and your calling. It may feel impossible. But it is exactly in that space where you can meet your soul. That is where the blueprint for your life is buried. Getting to where you need to be and becoming the best version of yourself isn’t about having it all together. It is about expectancy. It is about trusting your soul in the middle of that gap. It is you predeciding that you will access your soul... That still small voice... And trust it as you clarify what matters most to you.
We see people who seem to have it all together and they are leading their best lives. We may think that things come easily to others, but we have no idea what obstacles they have faced or are facing. What they are dealing with and what they have overcome. But we see them shining their light brightly and making a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. Don’t let any of that discourage you or cause you to shrink. Let that be a testimony that builds faith in you. Let that stir faith in you and create expectancy that you can and will do the same thing in your life. But expectancy doesn’t just happen. Expectancy is a stance that you take before you see things happening in your life.
You need to determine your direction ahead of time. Living expectantly isn’t just wishing on a star. It is deciding in advance... Predeciding... How you will respond when the tests come. It is identifying what matters most. It is living in alignment with what matters most. It is living intentionally according to your mission. It isn’t vague hope that things work out. It is settled conviction. You write your mission statement, and you believe it. You live it. That is what will move you forward. You live expectantly now that you know what matters most.
Once we have our mission based on our true values clearly in our minds, we can live expectantly. Knowing that whatever comes our way, we can meet the moment with integrity. We might not always like the outcome, but we know that we did not compromise or cave. We acted or made the best decision that we could given the circumstances presented at that time. And as we encounter different situations and circumstances, we know that as we continue to act according to our values, we are heading in the right direction.
You Gotta Have Faith... And Expectancy
Faith and expectancy are not the same, although they are closely related. Faith is the complete trust in something unseen and is the foundation for expectancy. And expectancy is the belief that a certain outcome is likely. Faith is about trust. Expectancy is about anticipation. Faith is rooted in character and not the circumstances. It is trusting the process, or trusting the path, even if you don’t see results yet. Faith remains steady, even when things don’t go the way that you had hoped. It is foundational rather than emotional.
Expectancy is about what you believe will happen. It is outcome oriented. Expectancy often carries emotional energy such as hope and excitement. Faith can exist without expectancy. But expectancy without faith is fragile. Faith relies on an unseen reality. We have faith in our soul... We have faith in that still small voice inside of us. Faith doesn’t need proof or evidence. Faith refuses to be swayed by current circumstances. It is quiet confidence and surrender, even when the circumstances are uncertain. Faith is trusting our soul / God / Source even if the answer is no or not yet. Expectancy is the strong belief that something will happen in the future. It is the anticipation of the result. Expectancy is driven by outcomes that validate beliefs.
Faith anchors you and expectancy motivates you. And both come into play once you are
certain of your mission and what matters most. Your mission anchors you and the expectancy that results when you know that whatever situation you encounter, you will act with integrity and not stray off course, motivates you. It is your guiding light.
Just as faith serves as the foundation for expectancy, expectancy is an expression of faith. Expectancy is confidence that something good is coming, which aligns with our faith.
An example of having faith without expectancy is having faith in someone without having an expectation for a specific outcome. But expectancy cannot exist without some underlying faith or trust in the likelihood of an outcome. Without faith, expectancy is fragile. It has nothing to tie itself to or no foundation. It floats and bases itself on circumstances, timing, and whichever way the wind is blowing.
Healthy expectation isn’t about rigid control. It isn’t about this exact thing happening at this exact time in this exact way. Too much attachment to the outcome can lead to disappointment if things don’t unfold as imagined. Whereas a flexible and healthy expectation allows you to adapt, while still holding faith in the outcome. And that is what knowing your mission does. Central to the idea of a healthy expectation is the feeling that the outcome brings, regardless of how the outcome looks.
If we stay locked into the exact thing that we desire, such as needing this specific job, meeting this exact person, or making a specific amount of money by a certain date, we are missing the broader and more important ways that our desires can be fulfilled. I stated in my book, Back On The Crooked Path, that the key to manifesting your desires is to focus on how you will feel when you get there. Don’t be rigid on focusing on the thing or place itself. What is the feeling that you want from your career? From your relationships? What is the feeling that you want regarding your life as you approach your twilight years? If you focus on how you want to feel in the heat of the moment, after making that big decision, and dealing with that issue, that is when you know you are acting with integrity and living in alignment with what matters most to you. Be flexible with your expectancy by putting the feeling first and not the thing.
When you peel everything back, most desires aren’t really about the thing anyway. It is really more about the feeling or state of being that we believe it will bring. Instead of the job, it is the security, the growth, or the recognition. Instead of the relationship, it is the love, the belonging, or the joy. Instead of the money, it is the freedom or peace of mind.
If our expectancy is focused more on the feeling or the quality of what we want to experience in life, then we stay open to different paths to manifest the life we want. Often, life delivers what matches the feeling, but not always in the way and the form that we expected.
You have to get in touch with your soul. That is where your values are. You have to search your heart. As you examine what you feel might be your values, you will know that they are coming from your soul because they will bring you peace and certainty. Not anxiety and uncertainty. And you have to trust what your soul is telling you. Faith is predeciding to trust your soul. Step away from doubt and into trust. You have faith that your soul will lead you to where you are meant to be. Faith is trusting without any signs. It is predeciding that things will work out
Faith is to believe what you do not yet see. The reward of Faith is to see what you believe - St Augustine
Faith is the confident trust in the unseen, with the promise that this belief will eventually be rewarded by the manifestation or realization of what is believed. Your conviction becomes a predecision that shapes your life moving forward.
Once you develop your mission statement based on what matters most in your life it will represent who you are. It will be your rhythm, your way of life, and your identity. And that matters not just to you but to those around you. People don’t learn by lectures. They learn through example and imitation. People catch things more than they are taught things. As you live in alignment your aura shines and people can’t help but resonate with that. Of course some won’t, but that is more on them than it is on you. You are living authentically, aligned with what matters most. And some people won’t be able to handle that.
Predeciding to live according to your mission and integrate it into every aspect of your life brings freedom and purpose. It will feel whole, integrated, and aligned. What the world needs now is ordinary people living integrated lives with what matters most at the center, that are based largely on universal truths that everyone can get behind. When people predecide to live that way, that is when things start to happen. Because you are walking with purpose. Even when the way seems unclear, you are following your True North. You aren’t just guessing your way through life. You are being guided. Guided by the gentle nudge of your soul. Guided by the peace that you feel from making aligned decisions. And every step that you take in obedience to your soul... Every step that you take in obedience to your mission... It all matters. You are no longer wandering aimlessly. You are soul-awakened. You are being led. You can walk with confidence and boldness. Because you are walking your path in alignment with what matters most to you.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying... This is the way; walk in it - Isaiah 30:21
Predecisions don’t have to be dramatic. They just have to be consistent. And over time, the small predecisions will add up to a life that tells a bigger story. Don’t be conformed by what is going on outside of you and in the world. Take control of your path by predeciding to live according to your values.
What story are you writing? What story is your life writing? Because the truth is that we are
living by decisions that we have already made. If you don’t choose integrity, then culture will cause you to choose compromise. If you don't choose generosity, then greed will take root. If we don't choose faithfulness, then pressure will push us towards short cuts. If we don't choose things that matter, then distraction will steal our devotion and direct it to those things that don’t matter. If we don’t choose community, then isolation will shape your story. If you don't choose spirituality, then there is the real possibility of being lead astray.
We don’t have to wait until the fire is blazing to decide our loyalty. We don’t have to wait until the temptation hits to decide our integrity. We don't have to wait until the storm rages to decide our anchor. Today is the day that you can live expectantly. Today is the day that we can all predecide. Expectancy doesn’t just stay with you. It will spill out to all of those around you.
Have you been living your life passively? Are you living your life passively? Waking up each morning and just seeing what happens. Seeing which way the wind will blow you today. Are you governing yourself, or are you living someone else’s script? Passively or purposefully? Which is it? Because you are meant for more. And this is not about conquering or saving the world. It is about conquering you. Conquering yourself. And that begins with choosing whether you will live your life passively or with purpose. Predeciding how you will live your life. We all have work to do because so few of us have truly structured our lives around our purpose and what matters most.
You have to decide that you want to and then decide that you are going to. You are the writer of your own first creation. Really you are the co-creator as God, Source, the universe has already planted the blueprint in you. But your desired second creation will not happen if you don’t take aligned action on your first creation. It starts in your mind. The dreams that you have are just dreams until you give them purpose. The ideas that you have are just ideas until you integrate them into your second creation.
So what are you waiting for? Because when you live your life passively, you aren’t really living. You are existing. Life is meant to be lived. It is a journey and an adventure. And there are so many possibilities out there. There are opportunities every single day. Doors open for you, but they don’t open with trumpets blaring or fireworks going off. Opportunities are there but they are not forced upon us. It is up to us to notice them. To feel that nudge. It is up to us to pick up the pen and start writing. Changing the script and rewriting our story.
Will you live passively or with purpose? Because when you really get honest with yourself and predecide how you will live... How you were meant to live... Your life will change. And you will thank God, Source, the universe... You will thank your soul for awakening you to your truth. And why wouldn’t you want to actively participate in the life, the creation and the purpose that you were put on this planet for?
Whatever you hold in your mind, tends to show up in your life. If you keep believing the same things, then you will keep acting the same way. And if you keep acting the same way, you will keep getting the same results. But the good news is that if you want something different... If you want to create change in your life... It starts in your mind. It starts with you. Not out there. Not someday. Right here... By changing your mind. By predeciding. Your life will always rise to meet the thoughts that you are holding.
You can create the life of your dreams by predeciding. It is that simple. It may sound to big. It may sound much bigger than you, but it is not. You are that powerful. Lean into that power.
Predecide what matters most and then move forward with purpose on the Crooked Path.
Learning Opportunity - Try this exercise -
AfterNotes - Rascal Flatts - Stand
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