Determined Practice: Four Steps

The journey to success requires a level of performance the likes of which dissuade most people, largely because of the time, sacrifice, and effort it takes to begin to see results.

Let's be honest, the journey to success requires certain things of us; determination, tenacity, and fortitude among them. Each of these aspects lends credence to our ability to perform. If we are determined to be the best, that performance has to be superior in order to set us apart from everyone else.

Superior performance requires determination, consistency, and hard work. In other words, it's not so much about what we are born with inasmuch as it is our resolve to do whatever it takes to achieve something. It is not an endeavor for the weak-minded, faint of heart, or impatient.

The development of the skills and habits of superior performance requires sacrifice, struggle, determination, and an honest self-assessment of what it is we truly desire in life. There are no shortcuts.

Your journey to success and superior performance will ask a lot of you, most often with grueling requirements that are beyond your current levels of expertise, stamina, or competency. Don't allow this to dissuade or frustrate you though because it is through determined practice that we learn and grow.

Success requires a sustained level of superior performance that requires practice...consistent, determined practice. This practice is not merely a repetitive practice, because let's face it, if your fundamental skills are inadequate and you consistently practice them, your skills will continue to be inadequate.

Determined practice is practice with a purpose. Determined practice is a meticulously structured and highly engaged practice designed to improve performance leading to the kind of success that only the most determined and dedicated ever truly achieve. This is not to say that most are unable to accomplish this level of success. It is to say, however, that most are unwilling.

Determined practice is deliberate and not always fun or enjoyable. Think about what it takes just to maintain an acceptable (not superior) healthy lifestyle - proper nutrition and consistent exercise...not always "fun" by any stretch of the imagination, but absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy balance. Look around you. How many people would you say display the kind of physique that represents a healthy lifestyle choice?

If we focus only on what it takes to achieve, then our state of mind will very often convince us the "work" is not worth the results we seek. However, if we want to acquire the skills of superior performance we must understand the principles of determined practice and learn how to make it a part of our daily lifestyle. We must shift our focus from what it costs to what it pays in terms of the results we seek. In other words, we must be willing to do what most others are not in order to attain something they never will.

I have discovered four steps that will not only propel you onto your objective of achievement but will also shape you into a superior performer - the kind of performer others aspire to but never truly achieve. Follow these steps and you'll begin to see changes take place you could never have imagined. Fair warning: these changes will come frustrating slow at first, but will each serve as an incremental step toward superior performance that will compound with consistency.

Four Steps

1. Motivation: We hear this term used so often that we almost turn a deaf ear when it is used. Despite that, however, it is an absolute essential element. You must be motivated to achieve an objective or, quite frankly, your plan will fail. Spend some time on this step. Take the time to understand your motivations. It is the essential "why" in your quest for achievement. Are you intimately familiar with why you want to achieve your goal? If not, get reacquainted with your motivations before moving on to the next step.

2. Accountability: We can have the best plan on the planet, but unless we're accountable to someone other than ourselves, we tend to find "reasons" (excuses) to stray from the rigid course we should be taking. One of the best sources to be accountable to is a mentor or coach. A mentor can not only hold us accountable but can provide an outside perspective and an unbiased analysis of our performance and progression. A mentor is also an excellent source of expertise if chosen wisely. Even the best among us have mentors or coaches. Who is your mentor or coach?

3. Tenacity: A focused determination is that trait that takes us into a zone of required effort (work) few dare to tread. Tenacity helps us look at a mountain and confidently convinces us with a nod and a wink that says, "We can do this!" It helps us ignore distractions, discomfort, and discontent. Tenacity propels us through temporary pain for permanent gain.

It is the psychological grit that carries us through the sweat and grime that keeps others on the couch, preferring instead to watch their favorite TV program or sportscast while they dream of "someday" or "luck." Finally, tenacity provides the last ounce of energy to follow through and cross the finish line of our plan.
 
4. Patience: It has long been said that patience is a virtue. The virtue of patience allows us to be tolerant of apparent slow progress, setbacks, failures, and learning opportunities. These things are inevitable and will cross the path of your intentions. However, patience allows us to see these things as temporary as we develop the skills it takes to overcome and perform superiorly. Patience imbues a quality that transforms our ability to see things others cannot. It changes us for the better and helps us to become rather than to be frustrated.

Patience pays dividends far beyond superior performance and helps us by revealing opportunities while helping us with timing. The insight and timing changes us physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

You too can have more, achieve more, and become more if you are willing to apply the steps of determined practice to your goals and aspirations. Keep in mind this is not something you try. Rather, it is something you embark upon with determination. So...be determined and get ready to enjoy the rewards of a superior performer!

Until next time...-G-


"In the private sanctuary of one's own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person, and to measure up to the stature of true potential."    
                                   
~ Thomas S. Monson


FEAR Is a Thief is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon.com. This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life. Get your copy today at: FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative, an #1 Amazon.com Best-Seller!

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 If you'd like to receive a notification anytime Gary publishes a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit his Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal - Speaker,Writer

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Permission to Soar!

What is your wildest dream, your biggest goal, or the one thing you desire more than most anything else? As you watch the images of your dreams play out in your mind, be quick to grab hold of the way you feel. Don’t let go and give yourself permission to soar on the possibilities. Savor the way it makes you feel. Are you energized? You should be. Do you realize that you can “feel” this way any time you want?

If our dreams, goals, and aspirations make us feel so great then why aren’t we riding them more often? It’s time to conduct a quick assessment on where we are versus where we desire to be…or who we desire to become. Are you moving closer to your objectives? Some may answer “yes, but…” If your answer is the same or anything less, perhaps you’re not giving yourself permission to soar.

 

Think for a moment about the way you feel when your dreams are at the forefront of your mind. Our minds create an image that ignites passion which, in turn, stimulates a physical response that produces endorphins that bring about clarity and creativity. If you’re like me, the drive and passion are so intense during those moments that there’s nothing that can derail or prevent me from grabbing the next rung of the ladder to my objective, no matter what it takes. Something happens when the ideals of our dreams, goals, and desires line up with the mind, body, and spirit. That “something” is called synergy!

 

Synergy is the interaction of two or more substances, entities, or agents to produce an effect far greater than the sum of their distinctive parts. Simply put, synergy is power. It’s a power every one of us possesses. You can experience synergy anytime you wish. It’s true.

 

The source of synergy is imagination. Try this – go back to the opening paragraph and tap into the images that support your greatest desires. As soon as you “see” the images you begin the process of your own synergy. Now, rinse, lather, and repeat…and repeat…and repeat. It’s the way habits are formed. What better habit to form than one that’ll literally change the course of your life?

 

Synergy is limited only by our own ability to allow it to multiply. In other words, if we get out of our own way and open our minds to the fact that we can achieve anything we desire, our imaginations will be free to show us more than we can already imagine. It has been said that our subconscious cannot discern the difference between fact and fiction. By continually tapping into our imaginations we feed and convince our subconscious of the reality we desire. So why not have fun with this and convince it of where you want to go instead of where you are and who you wish to become rather than who you currently are? It’s the beginning of a path to greatness and is a law of nature that will work for any one of us.  

Until next time...
-G-

"You have the power to set the tone of your day through the choices you make and the thoughts that dominate your mind." 
~ G. Westfal

We're proud to announce Gary's next book, set to be released this summer. FEAR is a Thief is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative.

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 
If you'd like to receive a notification anytime Gary publishes a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit his Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator.

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime he publishes a new blog or provides updates. Please help Gary by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" his Facebook page. Let's push this deserving author to the top among the greats where he belongs.

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How Do You Define Success?

How do you define success? Ask ten different people and you’re likely to get ten different answers. Although most equate success to money or income, some would agree that money is not the ultimate determinant in defining or measuring true success. If you really think about the question, you’ll soon realize that money has little to do with success. In fact, money is but one of many results of success, but it doesn’t actually define it. The reason money receives so much attention is because of its perceived power as a reliable indicator.

It’s true that far too many of us place too high an emphasis on money as a reliable indicator of success. Those who wish to been seen as successful focus on the achievement of income rather than on a specific result, outcome, or goal. Think about it – how many times have you scoffed at someone who seems to have “more” and wonder whether or not they can really afford the lifestyle they project. More often than not, it’s a ruse. True success lies in the achievement of the result, despite, and in spite of, the correlating monetary results. For what good is money if you’re unhappy with the manner in which you earn it? And for that matter, what good is money if you misuse it to misrepresent who you really are?

It may be difficult to comprehend, but if you were given an opportunity to pursue your life’s dream without fear of failure, you’d begin to realize the true definition of success. For success is relative to its true reward–accomplishment.

Ask the artist who paints a perfect portrait, barely making ends meet, but touched by the recipient or admirer of her work. Or the writer who completes and publishes their first book without having yet sold one copy…or the graduate who just completed a program of study without having yet been hired anywhere. These examples are but a few of the many that project success, absent of money as an indicator. It’s my bet that you pictured each one as happy, if not elated with the initial achievement of their success.

So, how do you define success? If you’re a leader, do you define success in terms of helping the team reach pre-determined goals and objectives? Is success defined by the number of people you teach that learn a new skill or mentor that achieve their true potential? The great Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have anything you want in life as long as you’re willing to help enough other people get what they want.” One of the best true measures of success is found in the way you influence or help others in achieving what they desire.

Maybe it’s time you reevaluate your definition of success. If so, do it today and watch the changes occur as you discover a new way of looking at things through the lens of true success.

Until next time!
 

 

- G -

"Take the time to understand what's behind your success. It's the best way to ensure it will continue."

-Stuart Levine
 

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Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative.  Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and order your copy today!

Receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream Operative. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

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Action...Time...Accomplishment

Action...Time...Accomplishment

 

People sometimes ask me how I get so much done in my life. They wonder how I’m able to accomplish so many things in seemingly so little time. It’s a thought-provoking question actually, because, after all, every one of us has the same 24 hours allotted to us to use as we please. The answer, therefore, is found not in what an awesome person I am, but in a relatively simple principle I discovered a few years ago that I remind myself of almost daily. And, as I apply the principle, it produces results. What people don't seem to grasp is that the principle is universal in that it’ll work for anyone!

 

This principle, when it is applied, is perhaps one of the most powerful principles there is in regard to long-term achievement and accomplishment. Yet, it’s not complex or overly insurmountable. In fact, it’s rather simple. So what is it?

Your short-term actions, multiplied by time, equal your long-term accomplishments.

Now, I wish I could take credit for having come up with the phrase, but I didn’t. It’s rather brilliant in and of itself, don’t you think? Think about it. If you want to see change take place in your life - see big results - the first thing you must do is change your current actions. Otherwise the old saying becomes a reality: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got!" But, if we change our actions, we will see different results.

Most of us want to accomplish something significant in our lives. Yet very few actually do. Why is this? It’s because what we often believe will equal our long-term accomplishments are simply wrong. Here are some of the things that people believe will create significant accomplishments for them:

Knowledge

Beliefs
Desire
Vision
Dreams
Ideals
Values

Truth is that while all of these things are very important, they’re not enough in and of themselves. Every one of these elements should underlie all we do, but without action, without doing something, they remain static elements of an imperfect formula of success! And this is where most people miss the point. Action is the quintessential key that unlocks opportunity, creativity, and circumstance. We must take action every day in order to realize progress and have any real hope of obtaining our desired outcome. And the kind of action we take is vital to how the results materialize. Because sometimes, there can be a whole lot of action going on that is distracting, counter-productive and downright  destructive to our desired outcome.

Consider the following…

• Who is the person who reaches their fitness goals - the one who knows all about the benefits of exercise or the one who walks three miles a day? (Knowledge vs. Action)
• Who is the person who reaches their retirement goals - the one who drives a car they can hardly afford, or the one who invests tirelessly on a consistent basis? (Ideals vs. Action)
• Who is the person who publishes a book - the one who dreams of becoming a best-selling author or the one who makes time every day to write for an hour? (Dreams vs. Action)
• Who are the people with the best relationships - those who know how much spending time with their each other can improve a relationship or those who actually take the time to sit down and talk with their mate every night? (Knowledge vs. Action)
• Who are the most successful sales people - those who believe they can become a great salesperson or those who actually make sales calls? (Belief vs. Action)

When it all comes down to it, we have to take action to perpetuate the essential elements of success or we simply won't see them come to fruition. Far too many people know what’s right but don't ever do anything about it. Imagine what a difference we could make if we would simply begin to act on our beliefs!

Not sure about you, but when I get to the end of my life, I want to know with certainty that I took every opportunity to realize the fulfillment of my desires and that I actually left the world a little better than I found it. I want to have made a difference. And, if you’re like me, you feel the same.  

Some questions as you consider the changes required in your own life:

• What long-term accomplishments do you want to realize?
• What short-term actions will you need to take (over time) to see them materialize
• What action will you take today to begin realizing your dreams?
• What will you do consistently, every day, regardless who knows or who doesn’t, to ensure the construct of your overall accomplishment is realized?

You can have an awesome future, filled with great achievements and results if you begin today to take action and turn your dreams reality!

Remember…

Your short-term actions multiplied by time equals your long-term accomplishment.

Live it, breathe it, and make it a part of you and you will not only realize your desires…you will exceed them!

Until next time!

- G -

"You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile."
- Brian Tracy
 

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HOT off the presses! I have just released my first novel! Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and get your copy of Dream Operative today!

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream Operative. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/

Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

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The Vehicles of Success

The Vehicle of Success

 

What is success? How is it measured? Can anyone achieve it?

I’ve studied success principles most all my life. What I’ve discovered along the way has incrementally transformed my life into what I personally describe as a continual transformation of self-improvement in a perpetual cycle of incremental change. Success to me, therefore, is an attitude that shapes the very nature of our lives. It provides clarity of purpose and fosters wisdom and awareness to subtle opportunities that cross our paths every day.

 

One of the first things to consider when contemplating success is whether we’re truly ready to receive that which we think we’re asking for. Success comes at a price. But that price doesn’t have to be one that we loath. Instead, it can be one that we truly enjoy if we tap into something that drives us ─ something that propels us, no matter what. It goes to show, therefore, that success is indeed an attitude we must learn to adopt in order to be properly programmed to handle once it begins to present itself to us. Keep in mind that success will not stick around very long if it determines you are not adequately prepared to care and feed it.

Without an accurate definition, success will be an elusive and frustrating foe. Defining success isn’t as complicated as it can sometimes seem. The issue is not typically in accurately defining success but in accepting the responsibility of getting there. In defining success, some say, “Go big or go home.” The approach you take is ultimately your choice, but you must make that choice!

So if we take the approach that success is an attitude, it bears noting that our very attitudes determine whether or not we achieve a true measure of it. And that leads us to the second question…

Can success be measured? Yes…but not by ordinary means. Success is personally measured and publicly judged. Success’s true measure is gained from the perspective of the one whose life it affects. True success is accompanied by drive, passion, tenacity, and joy – all attitudes and attributes of the human spirit. Most of us have preconceived notions of what success looks like. But success cannot truly be measured from the outside . Remember, we’re talking about success ─ not status, rank, or stature. Perceptions can be, and often are, deceiving. After all, things are not always what they seem.

That brings us to the final question. Can anyone achieve success? Absolutely! If success is personally (and broadly) defined, then it’s easy to understand that it can be personally achieved.

People often talk about “the keys to success” and typically offer elements or keys that serve as decent examples of best practices to enact when putting a plan of action together in pursuit of success. Although it is inferred, they often gloss over one of the most important “keys,”…you.

I prefer, instead, to focus on the vehicle to success whereby you are the key. Your vehicle is that which drives you or serves as your principle means to propel you toward your definition of success. Your vehicle can be a talent, a skill, or a passion you have that, whether you know it yet or not, can provide you with ideas that are just beneath the surface of discovery.  The vehicle cannot drive itself. It must have a key to operate. All you have to do is break away from American Idol and reality TV long enough to start the vehicle and drive it to your destination. In doing so, you take the time for introspect, which offers an entire new world of ideas, opportunity, and insight resulting in forward momentum putting on your way to achieving success in its most rewarding form – yours!   

You are the key! Your life’s destiny is in your hands. You have more control than you can imagine. Success comes to those who are willing to do enough small, insignificant things, over time, which eventually leads to the reward of self-discovery and the fulfillment of personal purpose – the truest definition of success.

Until next time!

 

- G -

"Define your destiny and drive with abandon!"

  - G. Westfal -

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HOT off the presses! I have just released my first novel! Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and get your copy of  Dream Operative today! 

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream Operative. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/

Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

If you enjoyed this article, you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

Don't Give Up

Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams...

Listen to any child under the age of ten and you’ll hear the unbridled imagination of their dreams expressed in virtually every word and action. No dream is too big. No obstacles exist. Anything is achievable. They’re living proof that we’re naturally programmed to dream, to create, and to become.

As adults, we encourage our children to dream, knowing all too well that reality will one day present itself, along with its close allies; obstacles, negativity, and discouragement. Soon, we convince our children that they must accept reality because, after all, resistance is futile.

Since when did such advice become commonplace among the wiser, more experienced counsel of our adult population? Instead of explaining reality to our children, perhaps they would be better served by an explanation that dreams require determination, passion, action, consistency, commitment and follow-through. Could it be that our adult population has succumbed to an acceptance of a reality of their own they know all too well? Don’t be that adult!

Far too many adults have accepted a pre-defined concept of reality they inevitably (and unwittingly) pass along to our young dreamers - all in a genuine attempt to “help” them avoid the perils of disappointment, discouragement, and despair. They shudder at the very thought of a young dreamer running the risk of failure. Unfortunately, the well-intentioned assistance does little to foster imagination, the values of risk, personal enrichment, and abundance.

Imagine the staggering societal change if we were to provide encouragement, education, and empowerment as the forces of reality begin to reveal themselves in the lives of our young dreamers. I believe we’d see a transformative change take place that would not only affect their young lives, but ours as well.

What about you? Have you given in to the intimidation of reality or do your dreams and aspirations still have life? Know this – reality is what you make it. Sure, there will be obstacles, setbacks, and circumstances. But obstacles can be circumnavigated, setbacks can be overcome, and circumstances are never stagnant.

It’s amazing how many people are wrapped up in the reality (and drama) proliferating our society through virtually every conceivable medium – especially TV. Most people can tell you more about the sordid details of someone else’s reality than they can about their own. Instead of watching the (perceived) reality of someone else, why not use that precious time to create your own reality? Because, as mentioned earlier, reality is what you make it.

Truth is – and this will not be sugar-coated – the only thing standing between you and the realization of your dreams is YOU! You have the power to take a stand and make a choice to change the course of your life - to pick up a new direction that takes you toward your dreams and aspirations. It’s never too late.   

Look, it’s a new year. Why not make a new declaration that supports the fulfillment of your dreams? By the way, don’t call it a “resolution.” The term is worn out and has become synonymous with an expectation of failure instead of victory. A declaration, on the other hand, sends a message! It sends a message, not only to the world, but to YOU as well. A declaration calls forth a state of being, as if it has already happened.  Here’s a secret – your subconscious doesn’t know the difference. So, begin to see yourself as already having achieved your dreams. At the very least, convince yourself that you deserve the reality of your dreams. Some amazing things will begin to take shape in your life. One of the first things you’ll notice is a renewed sense of expectation and unexplained excitement. Be quick to capitalize on your excitement because it’s the very essence of what will drive you to your dreams and aspirations. Your enthusiasm will begin to reveal things to you that you may have otherwise missed altogether. This is the rebirth of your dreams! Grab it and don’t let anyone or anything ever stand in the way.

Don’t ever give up on your dreams.

Until next time!

- G -

“Behind every great achievement is a dreamer of great dreams.”  – Robert K. Greenleaf –

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If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

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What is a Lifetime?

What is a Lifetime?

How do you define a “lifetime?”  The very nature of the question leads most of us to believe the answer to equate to some undetermined lengthy span of time. We choose to believe in averages that we are somehow entitled to live until we are “old age”, whatever that means. But most of us know that isn’t always the case. In fact, a wise friend once told me…

“No one promised you tomorrow.” 

Unless you’ve experienced a personal loss or endured a significant emotional event of some kind recently, the precarious nature of life is not something you have likely given much thought to.  After all, why would you or why should you? Why contemplate something that’s essentially out of our control?  

We live and plan our lives as if we’ll be around to see all of our hopes, desires, and ambitions take shape and materialize.  We don’t generally have any great sense of urgency to speak of because, after all, there’s always tomorrow.  But, what if…

What if you just received news that, for some reason, the definition (and fragility) of a lifetime suddenly becomes brutally apparent? Think of the twenty-something who just received a dreaded diagnosis of cancer.  Or the wife who is expecting her husband to arrive home from work, only to learn that he died in a car accident on the way home. The news crushes like a ton of bricks and affects not only the recipient but virtually everyone connected to them—family, friends, co-workers. It’s enough of a significant emotional event to force an unavoidable breath-taking pause in the pace of life. These are the moments that force us to recognize that there is indeed a period at the end of this journey we call life. Plans suddenly become unimportant. Petty differences no longer matter. The only thing that suddenly matters is to plug the emotion crater that exists in the pit of the soul. 

Throughout the timeline of life, there are reminders that the brevity of a lifetime is an undeniable aspect of our existence. We watch in awe the miracle of birth, celebrate birthdays and accomplishments, cry at weddings, and endure tragedy and misfortune along the way. Oftentimes we ignore the overt hints provided to us to help us recognize how truly precious and fragile our lifetime is, and to take account of just how we’re spending the timeline of our own lives. The question then becomes, are we listening? 

No matter how you personally define the term, a lifetime is dealt to each and every one of us disproportionately. We are left to accept—like it or not—that the timeline somehow aligns with God’s master plan. 

Your Call to Action

The purpose of this article is to remind us all that, no matter how we define it, the end of a lifetime is not ours to control. However, what we do and how we choose to live the life we do have is totally and emphatically up to us.  So…wake up!  Look around you and allow the nuances of life to permeate all of your senses. See color where you once failed to recognize it. Breathe in fragrances that make you smile or bring you to a place of spiritual harmony and balance. Listen to sounds that you’ve previously tuned out. Discover the essence of your inner self, where true peace, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding exist. 

It is true that we can have, be, do, and become anything we desire in our lifetimes. We have only to desire, and then to act, in order to project the purpose we choose for our lives. What a tragedy it would be for us to reach the end of our life knowing that we lived below our potential or failed to offer kindness or love in a manner that truly matches the intent and desire of our innermost selves. Don’t be that person. Instead, live each moment, appreciate the now, hold close the people you love and tell them how you feel. Be passionate and passion will resonate in every facet of your life. Become something or someone you truly know you are capable of becoming.  Reach deep and reignite the vision. Don’t put it off until tomorrow because no one promised you tomorrow. Seek divine guidance and wisdom and it will seek you.  

Until next time!

- G -

"Live as though today is your last, love as though tomorrow will never come, and dream as if there are no limits." ~ G. Westfal

Originally published by Gary Westfal (11/18/12).
© 2019, G-Life Enterprises Corp.

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