On your mark, get set, GO!!!
This simple voice command is familiar to most children as its often used to call the start of a race. When I was a little boy growing up in the heart of the Mississippi delta, I didn’t care much about racing myself, but I always wanted to be the person who called out these commands. I’d always have a long pause just before I would say, “Go!” It was a thrill for me to see how the racers would be on edge as they wait for the command. For some reason, as we get older in our adult lives, we tend to be less ready to run and we often make ourselves pause when life is telling us to go.
Life tells us to go when it comes to trying something new. For example, it’s telling us to go to write that book we’ve been thinking about. Life tells us to go back to school to complete that degree. It’s even telling us to go apply for that dream job we’ve always wanted. But instead, we pause.
Why do we pause? I know that I paused for a lot of different reasons over the course of my life. At times, I paused because I was afraid that I couldn’t do a specific task. I’ve paused because I thought wasn’t prepared for a new adventure. I’ve even paused because I thought the world was out to get me. And if you’re honest with yourself, you’ve probably paused for similar reasons.
Today, at this stage of my life, I’m glad to say that I’ve run quite a few races. These life experiences have given me plenty of learning moments and shown me that I actually am prepared for the current race that is before me. I’ve made a declaration for my life, no more pauses at the start line. I’m now excited to hear life say…Go!
Here are three things I think will help you jump off the starting line:
- First, observe your self-imposed limits. We define a lot of limits (real or perceived) for ourselves. But no one else can put a limit on you without your permission. Therefore, give yourself permission to become aware of the limits you’ve been believing, then break your own limits by doing the things that you say you can’t do. It’s time to change your can’t to can!
- Second, redefine your mindset around trials and tribulations. Tribulations come in relation to our dedication. You have to be committed and know what your dedicated to, or else your tribulations will always be the headliner. You’ll end up believing that life only wants to give you heartache and pain. Adversity will come, there is no doubt. But that adversity builds the fiber of the soul and this is why the Bible tells us to walk by faith and not by sight.
- Third, define vision from past, present, and future experiences. When you look to the past, see the promise of lessons learned; when you look to present, see your potential; and when you look to the future, look forward with faith. And once you see, respond accordingly with the proper actions for new results.
So what do you think? Take a minute to stretch and warm up to the possibilities that lie before you. And once you ready to start this new adventure, get on the start line and prepare to accelerate down the track of life.
On your mark, get set, GO!!!!