Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2015-10-06) from his book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters (p. 170). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) You want to do something that matters.   You want to do something that causes someone to say thanks. You want to make a difference with something you do.   You do, don’t you?   Well, there will be some sacrifice in there. John says, “If you want to live a life of significance, you will have to give up some things. The pathway of possibility is filled with trade-offs. Why? Because there is no significance without sacrifice.” He goes on, “But the good news is that as you trade one thing for another, you will be moving toward a better and more fulfilling way of life, whether making a difference means making the decision to start a family or making radical changes to your everyday life.” John then says, “I looked back at all of the trade-offs I’d made, and

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2015-10-06) from his book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters (p. 146). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) You may not realize it but you have something that will add value to someone’s life.   You really do.   Do you see it? John says, “Looking outward with an eagerness to add value to others influences how you will see people. We usually see only what we are prepared to see in others and the world. That’s why two people can be in the same place, in the same circumstances, surrounded by the same people, and see the same thing completely differently.” John shares a process that he developed to add value into a person's life: “ Model— I do it. Before I try to teach someone else, I work to become good at it so that I know what I’m doing. Mentor— I do it and you watch. Learning begins when I show someone how to do what I do...  I always tried to take

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2015-10-06) from his book, Intentional Living: Choosing a Life That Matters (p. 139). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I know, there’s that attitude thing again.   But your attitude is so very important. John says, “Gratitude is the motivation for doing good things for others, and a positive attitude is what drives that action. Gratitude fuels us to want to do good things for others.” He goes on, “Have you ever met people who think nothing good ever happens to them? It’s like they walk around with dark clouds over their heads, and they always say things like, ‘No one ever gives me a chance. I never get a break. Why doesn’t anyone ever pick me?’ Such people live very self-consuming, selfish lives. How can they experience significance at all?”   I hope you’re not that kind of person. He then says, “We’ve all heard the expression, ‘Count your blessings.’ But have you ever