What’s one promise you WOULD make to yourself, if you knew all your dreams COULD come true, or that you would just be abundantly joyful, IF you stayed true to your promise?
As Lent approaches us this week, I have been pondering what I will/should give up as a fasting sacrifice in commemoration of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness. Lent will start today, February 14, and it will end Thursday, March 29. This is a tradition within certain Christian communities that is intended to prepare believers for “Holy Week” (Easter), in which we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I personally will be participating in Lent for this purpose. However, some people use this as a second run at their failed “New Year’s Resolutions”, or their “promises” to themselves or others that they’re going to lose that weight, wake up earlier, spend less time on social media, etc.
Why do so many of us fail to keep promises we make to ourselves? Or others? Hey, I’m not pointing fingers, I’m talking to Theodore Marvin DiBiase, Jr. (Don’t laugh). There is SO much I want to improve on, and sometimes I just feel like I don’t have enough time. Ever felt that way? Well, what I am certain of is that there is PLENTY of time. Ever heard the quote, “The billionaire and the beggar both have 24hrs.”? There’s plenty of time for the things in life that are important to us and/or necessary. The answer to why we fail is because it hasn’t moved from GOOD INTENTION compartment to NECESSARY compartment. Ever watched that motivational video where Eric Thomas, famously says, “You gotta wanna succeed, as bad as you wanna breathe!”?
I’m convinced that each one of us know EXACTLY what promise, or promises, that we need to make to ourselves, and possibly others, that would 1,000,000% begin to “positively” change our outcomes and joy factors. This promise(s) would no doubt change our tomorrows and push us TOWARD our dreams and goals, instead of dragging us away from them. What is that one promise you’ve broken over and over to yourself, so many times that you’ve just accepted that this is as good as it’s going to get? I’m challenging you to make that promise for the LAST time! You know what it is!!
What do you want to become and what price are you willing to pay to get there? That price requires some promises to ourselves. It requires disciple. Are you ruling your days, or does your day rule you? If it does, it means you’re holding onto fear and anger, more than you are gratitude and discipline. It takes insane intentionality and focus to change a habit or mindset. Some say it takes 21 days minimum to change a habit, and a lifetime to sustain it.
Personally, I want INSANE discipline and self-control in my life. I mean INSANE amounts of it!! Haha. I’ve had it before, and I am realizing there are some things that are holding me back from “abundantly more”, and I don’t like it. I’ve let some compromises into my life, like drinking cokes (OFTEN) and eating too much sugar and cheese (OMG I LOOOOOVE CHEESE??). I’ve also slowed down my physical activity. These things have really affected my overall joy in life, if I’m being 100% transparent and honest. For a while I didn’t think it was a big deal, and the busyness that work and parenting filled up as far as time, was my justification. It was my “accepting”, this is just how it’s gonna be now…. Ummmm…. NO SIR! NO MAM!! Teddy, bout to drop cokes, cheese and low physical activity levels like a bad prom date! Bust’n out my finisher move, #DreamStreet, on some cokes and cheese for Lent, and I’m going to walk/run 10 miles each week as well, so in essence I am giving up low activity levels. I PROMISE!!!
These sacrifices may seem small to you, but they are HUGE to me, because I have moved them into NECESSARY compartments that have a large influence over my mood… which ultimately effects my decision making. #NotGood … but, #NotPermanent. What did Rocky say, “If I can change. And You can change. Then we can ALL CHANGE!!!” (In AWESOME Sylvester Stallone voice of course).
So, in closing, I’m making 3 promises to myself, to God and to my One Life family. During the period of Lent:
1.) I promise not to drink cokes.
2.) I promise not to eat cheese.
3.) I promise to walk/run 10miles minimum/week.
I also want to leave you with some awesome John Wooden wisdom. Wooden said,
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
He also gave a strategy to happiness, based on 9 promises. Here are the 9 promises:
1.) Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness and prosperity as often as possible.
2.) Promise yourself to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value.
3.) Promise to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and in others.
4.) Promise to be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are your own.
5.) Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
6.) Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7.) Promise to wear a cheerful appearance always and give every person you meet a smile.
8.) Promise to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
9.) Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.
Y’all pray about me giving up cheese! Haha. I’ll be praying for each one of you and the promises you need to and are going to make….. So….
What’s the one promise you SHOULD make… TODAY?!!
Love Y’all,
Ted DiBiase, Jr.
VP Business Development
One Life America
