“The one thing you have control over is changing yourself.”

A thought by Greg Darley (2010-11-15) from his book, Passion Is Not Enough: Four Elements to Change the World (Kindle Locations 771-772). Backstage Publishing. Kindle Edition.

The realization of that fact is the beginning of change within you.  The realization that you are responsible to do that is also very important in that change.

Do you like who you are?  Then what are you going to do about it?  Now of course if you have a problem with being short you can’t change that but you can change your attitude toward being short.  We see things that people who are tall don’t see.  So even in some physical features that you may not like you can deal with seeing them in a different light. 

Another thing to see is that the only way you can change another person’s response to you is by changing your response to them.  If they say something to you that you don’t like and you come back at them in the same nagging way you always do them then they don’t need to change.  They are used to that response. 

But what if you became there cheer-leader instead of their heavenly sandpaper, always trying to quote, “make them better”, then they would be glad to see you coming instead of afraid.  You would be changing them by changing your response to them.  You only have control over you and your response. 

Now at the beginning of 2012 there are so many things that we can’t change.  We can’t change the economy.  You may think you can by who you vote for President but they can’t really change it either.  However you can change the way you spend, how you save, what you give to.  That will have an impact over your personal economy.  So that is where you start.

You may be frustrated with your job.  It just isn’t something that really fulfills you.  For now you may need to just change your attitude toward your job.  This is not a very good time for you to be looking for another job but it might be a great time to be preparing for another job when the opportunity comes.  Things are going to change and you need to be ready for them when they do change.  So what would you like to do when the opportunity comes to do it?

What about life all around you?  You are afraid, you are discouraged, you are depressed and you are really tired.  So take control of yourself.  Get into the Bible.  Start reading one Psalm every day.  Then start reading a verse every day in the book of John and writing down in a journal what it says to you.  

Then start talking to God.  Let Him know your fears and then believe He hears them.  Also ask Him for guidance in your life and the power to make the changes He will show you to make.  Confess your sins and believe that He forgives you.  Let Him change you and your perspective on life.

Learn to control that which you can control and leave the rest with God.  Life will then be so much more fulfilling.

So when are you going to start?