Seven Everyday Steps to Achieve Excellence
Exercise #1
1. LOVE YOURSELF AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
We must feel love inside ourselves before we can give it to others. The messages you listen to about yourself will become who you are. Get rid of any “CD’s” that you have been playing in your brain telling you that you are not good enough, or not worthy, or not this or that! Replace them with mental “CD’s” that affirm your goodness and dignity: I am a child of God, created in His image and likeness and I am proud of who I am today! Jesus believed in himself and encouraged others to believe in themselves.
I ask God: What “CD’s” have I been listening to that are sending me the wrong messages?
God says:
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I ask God: What messages do you want me to listen to?
God says:
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10 minutes
2. HAVE PURPOSE
Life is a self-fulfilling prophesy. You won’t necessarily get what you want in life, but in the long run you will usually get what you expect. You must set a strategic plan to accomplish your goals in life. He who fails to plan, plans to fail. Jesus had a plan and knew what it would take to accomplish His goal. Jesus knew at a young age that he must be about His Father’s business.
I ask God: Based on my past attitudes and beliefs, what have I been expecting for myself in life?
God Answers:
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I ask God: What do you want me to have as a strategic plan for my life?
God Answers:
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10 minutes
3. HAVE NO FEAR
Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear gets in the way of excellence when it prevents you from asking for the help you need from your benefactors, bosses, teachers, and others. Fear handicaps you from moving forward and accomplishing the tasks that are ahead of you. Jesus said, “Be not afraid.” You have nothing to fear because Jesus already paid the price. Jesus knew that the best way to conquer fear was to face forward. The opposite of fear in the Bible is peace. Jesus said, “My peace I give you.” You must face your fears just like Jesus did with trust, confidence, and peace.
I ask God: What things am I afraid to do or ask for that would truly help me in my life?
God Answers:
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I ask God: What steps do I need to take to overcome these fears (False Evidence) and to achieve the confidence and peace I need.
God Answers:
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10 minutes
Seven Everyday Steps to Achieve Excellence
Exercise #2
4. BE ADAPTABLE
No one likes change. Often times it is threatening. Sometimes it is outright painful. Yet, change is inevitable in life. The best way to adapt to change is to view a crisis as an opportunity and your stumbling blocks in your path as steeping stones to the stars. Jesus adapted himself to every situation he encountered. He took a negative situation and made into a positive result.
I ask God: Where am I having a difficult time adapting to change or to uncomfortable situations?
God Answers:
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I ask God: What can I do to transform these situations into vehicles of personal growth for myself?
God Answers:
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10 minutes
5. PERSEVERE IN YOUR TASKS
Winners work at doing things the majority will not do and they complete their tasks. Keep on keeping on. Jesus stuck to His mission and completed His task all the way to Calvary.
Name one or two projects or activities that you have started, but are presently tempted not to finish?
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I ask God: Why am I thinking about not completing the project?
God Answers:
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I ask God: What do I need to do to persevere with this project?
God Answers:
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10 minutes
Seven Everyday Steps to Achieve Excellence
Exercise #3
6. “OWN” ALL YOUR ACTIONS
Your success in life will depend upon how you follow through on the consequences of your actions. Are you proud to be owner of every one of your actions? Do you attend to all of the details? When you have made a mistake, do you take full responsibility? Do you make proper amends
when necessary? Jesus did not despise the little things and He set an example for us to follow. Jesus taught us that you must finish what you start.
Think of a situation in the past in which you would change your actions if it were possible.
I ask God: What caused me to act the way I did the first time?
God Answers:
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I ask God: How should I have acted in that situation?
God Answers:
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10 minutes
7. BE PASSIONATELY COMMITED TO YOUR CAUSES
Whatever is your passion, is your permission to do it. You must have dedication to whatever you endeavor to accomplish in life. The world will make way for someone who knows what he or she wants because there is not much competition when it comes to passionate commitment. Jesus said for us to be either hot or cold. Jesus constantly warned his staff of the importance of commitment to His cause. He was willing to walk the road alone-and did-when it came to the price of His commitment.
Write down two of the most important objectives or causes that you are presently pursuing in your life.
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I ask God: “Am I truly ‘passionate’ about these two causes or objectives?”
God Answers:
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I ask God: “If I am passionate about these causes, why is that?”
God Answers:
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I ask God: If I am not passionate about these causes or objectives, why am I not?
God Answers:
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10 minutes