Confidence is something that builds over time. The misnomer is that you have to do something spectacular in order to gain it.

Actually, it’s pretty easy.

• Step 1 – at the beginning of the day, commit to improving upon one aspect of your craft each and every day
• Step 2 – at the end of the day, verbalize specifically to yourself and to someone else where you improved
• Step 3 – before you go to bed, write down exactly where improvement took place and what you learned

If after 90 days, you’re still lacking confidence, then you either need to…

• A. quit lying to yourself; or…
• B. tell that insecure voice to shut up!

One day at a time. One step at a time.

Either way… your confidence builds.

Question: What lessons have you learned along the way toward building confidence? You can leave your comments below.

Looking back, how often did you find yourself truly growing when things were… comfortable?

In challenging times, it’s tempting to try and find a way to have things go back to the way they were.

Seasons of growth can be painful — personality conflicts at work,  loss of a job, illness, marital crisis —  and tend to be catalysts for moving one step closer to the larger story of our lives.

Maybe you are in that place right now and feel like it’s time to quit.

But now is not the time to quit because these are all tests…

Tests that reflect the depth and width of your calling.

Unless you feel you were called to remain… a baby.

When you look back at something that happened in the past, it is much easier to see how something could have been prevented or done differently… especially, when you have more of the facts AFTER the event. That’s called hindsight.

When you have the ability to predict what will happen or be needed in the future, it is easy make wise decisions. That’s called foresight.

A great quote that speaks to both says:

Hindsight explains the injury that foresight would have prevented.

You probably already know this; however, I have proven through my own foolish decisions that common sense is not always common. For we do not always heed our own advice, let alone the advice of the wisest man who ever walked this earth.

I found it interesting to read these insights on “co-signing” by King Solomon. He says:

“My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else’s (your neighbor’s) debts? Have you been caught by your own words, trapped by your own promises? Well then, my child, you are in that person’s power, but this is how to get out of it: hurry to him, and beg him to release you. Don’t let yourself go to sleep or even stop to rest. Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter.” ~  Proverbs 6:1-5

My take on what Solomon is saying is: “Never co-sign for anyone. Not even for your family members. I don’t care how much you love them or feel that you owe them.”

Why?

Because you never know what true level of commitment (many times financial) you’re making. Essentially, you could be responsible for the ENTIRE debt!

Just imagine having co-signed for someone’s car or apartment and they stop making payments. And now you’re on the hook for THOUSANDS of dollars. It’s more than likely that you’ll get a call from the financing company or landlord before you hear from… your ‘neighbor’.

This wisdom of Proverbs says that if you do happen to co-sign, then you better beg, plead, scratch, claw, cry, and nag your neighbor to the “point of exhaustion” to try and get yourself out of this mess.

You’re better off and your neighbor will be better off by just giving them what you know you can give versus signing alongside them on the dotted line.

So, in the words of Smokey aka Chris Tucker in the movie Friday… “don’t you ever ever ever ever ever ever ever EVER” co-sign for ANY (not momma, daddy, sister, brother, son, daughter, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, boyfriend, girlfriend, your boy, your girl, your homie, etc.) ONE! Take the time [minutes, hour(s), day(s)] to think thru what you can give and just give that.

If nothing else, pray this prayer: “Lord, as much as I desire to be more generous, please give me the courage to take say “No” when asked to co-sign for my ‘neighbor’. In Jesus name, Amen!”

I must admit, I have been on the front end of some really poor decisions….. Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration….. I have made some really dumb and stupid, are-you-kidding-me type decisions!

I never intend to look like a jack-butt when making decisions. No one does. However, the outcome of our decisions can largely be attributed to where we lean for guidance.

For some… it’s our parents. For others… our smart and intellectual friends. For most… a trusted mentor or advisor. For all… Google.

Today, I read Matthew 6:33 and realized that the one source I fail to consistently lean into or ask enough is… the Lord. It says:

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The revelation for me is that, when faced with making decisions, there are good things we can do, but only God-things we should do. And the only way to understand what those “God-things” are is to seek Him FIRST for every decision and every action (throughout the day) before I take it.

The most important quality God desires to develop in us is our dependence on Him and Him alone.

Question: How have you gone about making decisions? Do you feel your method has served you well? Why or why not? You can leave your comments below.

Okay, okay, okay…

At six-foot six, I don’t think I will ever be mistaken for a “shorty”… but yes, it is my birthday!

For all intents and purposes, I understand why the folks at The Domino Project initiated the Trust30 writing challenge. It was to get people into the flow of blogging by showing them that they do have it what it takes to blog regularly… if not daily.

I found myself excited about stepping up to the challenge of blogging for 30 days, but quickly got discouraged after six days and stopped after seven. It wasn’t that I could not keep up with the daily prompts. It was the topic of those daily prompts, which caused me angst — Self-Reliance.

Self-reliance means “to rely on oneself or one’s own powers, resources, etc.”

And why is this a problem?

Let’s just say that only a fool thinks he is “self-made” or solely responsible for every positive outcome in his life. And I have been that King Kong chest-beating fool way too many times.

So, if we’re not to rely on ourselves, then how are we to excel, blog more, and achieve?

Craig Groeschel tweeted it best:

Depend on God. Self reliance + self absorption always = self destruction

Rely on that!

#Trust30 was an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encouraged you to look within and trust yourself. The goal was to use this challenge as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future.

Day 7 Prompt by Matt Cheuvront

What is life without purpose?

I believe that when there is no purpose, there is no passion.

I believe that when there is no passion, there is not conviction.

I believe that when there is no conviction, there can be no courage.

I believe that when there is no courage, then you have nothing.

I believe that when there is no nothing, then there is…

nothing.

So, my strongest belief that is shared by many, but not all of my closest friends or family is that it is important to:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

It is in humility where we find comfort and peace with ourselves because humility destroys both pride and anger; which for me, has freed me to live, love, and serve with…

courage. conviction. passion. and purpose.

Question: What one strong belief do you have about life and purpose? You can leave your comments below.