The Most Important Day of our Lives

“Your performance today must come from a deeper place. No matter how hard, no matter how tough—you are expected to make a difference. Today are you ready, today are you at your best? So much depends on what you do today.”
Bronco Mendenhall

Today is the most important day of our lives. What we do today is all we can control.  We cannot change yesterday, and tomorrow is uncertain, thus today is the day that matters.

Too often we procrastinate and say we will do something tomorrow or that we will change in a few days but often, tomorrow never comes. So what are we doing today to make a difference? After all, today is really all that matters because it is the only sure thing we’ve got.

Since yesterday is in the past and there is nothing we can do to change it, we must let it go and move on learning from the past but focusing on today. Tomorrow is in the future and is unpredictable. In fact the best prediction we can possibly make of what will happen tomorrow is by viewing what is taking place today. Past and/or current behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. Thus, if we are procrastinating until tomorrow, it is a safe predication that we will procrastinate again. Thus, there is no reason to wait.  Today is our day, the day to take action.

Just do it, is a famous slogan coined by Nike but I have another word to add that can motivate us to take action even quicker and that is “just do it NOW!” We cannot wait for that perfect moment or a sign, or until we have more money, or a better job, or the weather changes, or the economy improves and our kids grow up to do those things that are most important to us and to change. We must do it now. We must not wait.

Today needs to be our focus. We must perform our very best today so that we can have a better tomorrow. Today cannot be another day of putting things off or wasting time. Today must be the day we take action because after all, everything does depend on today. Are our priorities right today? Are we doing the most important things today? Are we putting first things first today?

What we do today turns in to who we are and what we care most about tomorrow. Each day we have the opportunity to move forward towards our dreams or goals or move backwards away from them based on our actions today. It has nothing to do with what is past and even less to do with future plans. Good intentions are never good enough. What matter is what we are doing now!

So, learn to live in the present and realize that tomorrow will never come. Do those things that are most important to you today. Do not put them off because we may only have today...

Reawaken Belief in Self

Today’s blog will be short…I think.  As I get older I feel like my faith or belief in my own ability to change or impact the world is slowly fading and I’m not exactly sure why that is.  Now as far as I know I’m not depressed or lacking self-confidence or anything like that but just things that I once believed I could do, I now doubt and no longer believe.  For example, when I was a child I believed I could do anything, even fly, or learn to stop time.  I was innocent and naïve back then I guess but my belief in self was powerful.  I literally believed I could do anything if I wanted to! 

Though my childhood beliefs were far-fetched, they highlight how slowly, as we age, we begin to doubt and lose faith.  Things we once believed were possible become impossible.  I’ve learned that as we become wiser and more experienced in how the world runs and works, our faith and belief in self for whatever reason diminishes along with at least some of our dreams and aspirations.  Sadly, we even begin to create roadblocks or develop belief patterns that are entirely made up, self-created, and untrue that prevent us from dreaming big.  And right now I’m having a big problem with this….   

Recently I learned about a small business that was struggling with some changes in the competitive landscape of their market.  Most everyone, including even the owner believed the business was doomed and that it was only a matter of time before the business would be forced to close its doors forever.  Though most everyone was aware of this business’ hardships, one employee, who seemingly had an insignificant job within the company, and who actually had some slight mental challenges, thought differently.  Without thoughts of compensation or recognition of any kind, and without any doubts, he began to do simple things that eventually had a tremendous impact on the organization.  In fact his simple actions prompted others to follow which eventually saved the business.  How did he do this?  It was his mindset, he believed.  Though he was one of the most unlikely people that could save the business, he had faith, innocent child like faith that he could truly make a difference.  Some would probably say he was even naïve in his belief initially yet he went to work without doubts and made what he thought was possible a reality. 

This story was inspiring to me!  My challenge for myself and to you is to find ways to rediscover that innocent faith again, to believe anything is possible and then to go after it just like this “unlikely hero” employee.  I don’t believe we have to lose our faith or even change or modify our dreams as we age.  I think we can fight it, even as we grow older and wiser and in fact dream even bigger.  If we can retain or reawaken the innocent faith of our unlimited potential to impact this world, we will be able to do anything.   Our potential and our future lies within our belief of what is possible.