It’s that time of year again. School is about to start, and thoughts are turning to fall. I can remember the excitement around the first day of school, both as a student and a parent. There is also the excitement around the opening day of baseball season, the first kickoff of football season, or many other “firsts” in life.
There is something about those “firsts” that bring excitement, optimism, and hope. We look forward to a fresh start, a chance to start with a clean slate, and an opportunity to do things differently this time. We are filled with positive thoughts about what could happen.
Firsts are great, and I enjoy them as much as anyone. The issue is what do we do after the “first.” So many of us, including me, have great intentions. We talk about what we want to accomplish, experience, and impact. We so look forward to the “first” with so many plans.
However, for many of us, those intentions are never acted upon. The excitement of the “first” fades quickly on day two and beyond. The intentions on day one begin to diminish as the grind begins. We get caught up in the busyness of life, and things settle into a norm with nothing being different.
Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom God does not consist in talk but in power”.
That verse doesn’t mean that words don’t matter, but rather that talking about our intentions is meaningless unless we act.
Whether you are a Bible reader or not, there is a great message in that statement.
Intentions don’t impact lives, improve workplaces, advance communities, or benefit people. Actions impact, improve, advance, and benefit. Actions change lives, improve futures, and bless people. The key is to act on those intentions.
While every day can’t be the first day of school, it can be a day filled with optimism and hope. If we start keeping our commitments and acting on those intentions, every day can be a PLUS (positive) day.
While every game can’t be opening day or the first kickoff of the season, every game can be exciting and filled with optimism and hope if we continue to act on our intentions and commitments.
Don’t wait for the perfect conditions or the ideal time to take that first step. Don’t wait until you feel comfortable in the moment. Those moments may never happen. Be a person of action, not of idle talk. We live impactful, fulfilling lives when we act on those intentions.
Whether it’s a “first” for you or just the continuation of many days, when the sun comes up, you have a choice. You can treat that day like the first day of a new opportunity for you. Every day can be a new “first” in a sense.
Act on those intentions and approach every day with the optimism and excitement of a “first” for you.
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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