Be Encouraged

I can't say how it is for you but sometimes, I am so overwhelmed by all that I feel called to do especially the things that I really desire to do. There are also a few things I'd rather not do - now or at all - but know that I have to so God is glorified in my life. Unfortunately, some of us get "paralyzed" into inaction/inactivity because of the "enormity" of the task(s) ahead...it should not be so - it really shouldn't.

We must always remember that:

"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something."* 

The best way to start on all the things that God has asked us to do is to start. There is no value in assessing what you need to do if you do not plan to do anything about it.  Some people spend more time assessing what they should do rather than doing what they need to do. "Instead of counting your days, make your days count."*

Although I don't completely agree, I can understand what Leo Rosten meant when he said: "The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all." Personally, I've found that I am so happy and fulfilled when I'm MAD (Making A Difference).

Now this is not to say it is easy...in fact let's be clear - it is not easy. All sorts of things get thrown at you. When that happens, I do my best not to be phased because I know that life is bed of roses. I've come to appreciate that "problems are only opportunities with thorns on them."** So I encourage myself to look into the "problem" because more often than not, the solution is in there. Let me share an example: suppose you're having challenges getting the type of job you want. You need to ask yourself a few questions such as: What do I need to do now to get where I want to be? Do I have all the skills needed for that job? What can I do to acquire or sharpen those skills? When it has to do with a God-given assignment, you can ask the exact same questions and maybe more. The next step is to work on yourself based on the answers you get. 

The bottom line is that, no matter how good/qualified you are: "there is always room for improvement, you know - it's the biggest room in the house."***

One thought I'd like to leave you with: "Improvement begins with I."****
Ultimately, "self-improvement is the name of the game, and your primary objective is to strengthen yourself, not to destroy an opponent." (Maxwell Maltz)
We all need to be encouraged and deliberately work on ourselves and on what God has called us to, then we''ll go places and make a difference wherever we go.

 Sources:
*Author Unknown
**Hugh Miller, Snow on the Wind
***Louise Heath Leber
****Arnold Glasow