Life is simple, just not easy. It can get incredibly overwhelming and confusing at times. Life is a roller coaster that has many ups & downs, twists & turns. Sometimes we are enjoying the ride, sometimes we feel like we want to throw up. Sometimes we yell “give me more!” sometimes we want to yell “get me off this ride!” No matter who you are, where you come from, or where you are going, life is life. Life is about living. It is about embracing it to the fullest and making the most of the time we have been given.

So what does it take to live a full life? What does it take to get the most out of life? How do we embrace the ride?

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

~ Hunter S. Thompson ~

Life is simple in that we have been given a gift to love, laugh, and learn! Remember when you were young? The greatest decision of the day was what toy you wanted to play with next. Then as you got older more and more pressure and responsibility was required. Somewhere along the years life probably got a little confusing, chaotic, and sometimes frustrating. Yet in the midst of the chaos, you probably experienced incredible times of joy, hope, and great memories. Most people spend their whole life trying to recapture those great memories and regain what they once had. Instead of forging ahead into a greater future they are trying to recreate the good times of their past! For some reason it is easier to live in the past than it is to venture out into the future. But the future can be so much greater than the past if we know how to navigate it and make the most out of it. All it takes are simple truths to live by in order to enjoy it. These truths are not easy though, they can get challenging, but the reward is worth it!

So here is the first ingredient it takes to navigate our future and live a full L.I.F.E.

L = Leadership

Most people think of leadership as a position of authority in a business. But leadership is SO much more than that. Leadership is about stepping up and taking responsibility for action. Leadership is more about you than it is any one else. The most important person anyone will ever lead is themselves. Everyone is called to be a leader by leading themselves well! You are responsible to lead your life, no one can do that for you! You can’t delegate your life to someone else. You will never get the most out of life if you don’t lead yourself better than you lead others. Leadership is not about others until you can learn to lead yourself. If you can’t lead your own life, how could you lead others? You can’t take people where you have never been yourself. You can’t give what you don’t have.

Over the years I have been known for having a passion for leadership. Most people think it is because I love business organization, but the reason I love leadership is because I believe the quality of our life is dependent upon our ability to lead ourself. I remember as a teenager the draw I had to leadership, not because of position or authority, but because I was so drawn to learn how to lead myself and make a difference. When I began to learn about leadership and study it with all I had, I learned that leadership was more about me than it was the masses. It’s said that one day, Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man walking ramrod-straight in the opposite direction.
“Who are you?” Frederick asked his subject.
“I am a king,” replied the old man.
“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”
“Over myself,” was the proud old man’s reply.

Under God, we are the ruler of our own life. God has given us the responsibility to make choices and watch over our life to make sure it is honoring to Him. We are the master gardner of our soul responsible to take care of our thoughts, actions, and character. When we come to accept the duty of leadership in our own life we will begin to take the first step towards greatness!

So how do you lead yourself well? In my book LIFE RULES I share some of these thoughts below…

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]1. Believe In Yourself[/typography]

Sometimes the greatest obstacles we have to overcome lie within ourselves. The HARDEST person you will ever lead is YOU. It has been said that if you kicked the person responsible for most of your mistakes, you wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week. In order to outperform your limiting beliefs, you have to gain confidence in yourself. Do you believe in yourself? I want you to think about that question. Do you really believe in yourself? Do you believe that you are able to do what you want to do and become who you want to become?

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]2. Believe In Your Purpose[/typography]

Let your purpose become a fire within you that is burning for something greater. Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by God’s power and purpose. Here is what happens when your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT…

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT nothing will knock you off course. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT you know your mission every day. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT others are inspired. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT you are disciplined to follow through. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT courage fills you. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT you are willing to endure hardships. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT you produce results. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT there is power to change things. ~

~ When your WHY is bigger than your WHY NOT you take responsibility. ~

[typography font=”Cantarell” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]3. Believe In Your Skills[/typography]

When you are who God created you to be, you don’t need to worry about being someone else. Don’t play the comparison game! You will always lose when you compare yourself to someone else. There will always be those that are further along than you. Instead of thinking less of yourself, challenge yourself to keep pushing ahead. When you compare yourself to others who are above you, worthlessness can easily set in. On the flip-side there will always be someone who isn’t as far along as you. The danger in comparing yourself to them is that you can easily let pride slip in. Either way, comparing always leads to a false sense of reality. Author and Speaker Joyce Meyers said,

 “God will help you be all you can be, but He will never help you be someone else.”

 Embrace who God made you to be and use the special blend of gifts and talents that He has entrusted to you. Your worth is invaluable and your potential is limitless because our God is limitless, and we are created in His image. Step up from the shadows so that you are able to step out into greater things, as you step on the platform of your God given gifts and strengths! You have a future to get to.