Convictions.

Convictions are the values and commitments that are non-negotiable for you.

Here’s the thing about convictions. You need to have them before you find yourself in a position of needing them. By the time you figure out you may need some convictions, it’s too late.

• The weight of the moment, the pang and the urgency of the passion will outweigh and overwhelm any shred of conscience you might have.
• Any semblance of conscience will lose out to the overwhelming pull of the flesh 100% of the time unless you have already predetermined what convictions and commitments are non-negotiable before-hand.

You need to have a plan before you need a plan.

You need to have tested out your convictions prior to finding yourself in a crisis of character.

That’s what convictions are.

So what are your convictions? What are your non-negotiables? You need a plan before you need a plan.

Because life is life, there are days that suck.

It won’t be anything you’ve done. It’s mostly stuff that will happen to you as a result of events that are totally beyond your control. Other people make bad decisions and you and others will bear the brunt of the consequences of their actions.

Because life is life, there are days that suck.

I know. I had one yesterday.

The thing about days like yesterday is that not only do they suck, they actually suck the life out of you. And unless you are intentional about replenishing all the suck of yesterday, we will lead poorly. We will lead poorly because we will lead re-actively. We rarely make great decisions when life has been sucked out of us. It is absolutely essential to our leadership and our organizations that we lead well.

The only one who is responsible for replenishing life back into you as a leader, is you. No one else will do this for you. You are responsible for your welfare.

So what is your go to replenishment plan? Is it healthy? Is it God-honoring? Do you have a plan? What re-energizes you? What fills you with joy? You need a plan before you need a plan. Read that last sentence again. Plan now. Have a go to plan that you know fills you back up with life.

Finally, if your day sucked because you made poor decisions. Well, that’s on you. Forgive yourself and figure out how you can prevent that from happening again. Finally, don’t make sucking a habit!

“Like”

We all “Like” it. Each of us derive a level of pleasure whenever someone “Like”s our photo, quote, or entry. In fact, I would like it very much if you “Like”d this post.

The culture of “Like”ing things that we agree with has resulted in several dangerous realities:

• We end up reading only those articles and ideas that already agree with what we believe
• The computer algorithms that regulate what shows up on our feed weed out those posts we disagree with, and only shows us those things that we already agree with
• The end result is we end up only seeing things we already agree with

The result is frightening.

Our growth as a culture and a people of ideas is stunted. It prevents us from having to wrestle with ideas, concepts, beliefs that are different than our own. But that is precisely how we grow and mature.

As a result, our society loses her ability to dialogue and discuss important issues. All we know how to do is to attack and disparage those we disagree with.

But the thing about pretty much any issue that’s important – gender roles, gun control, sexual identity, the war against terrorism, mental illness, the homeless, etc. – is that important issues have multiple perspectives and opinions. It is only by listening to and learning from differing views that we grow and gain a greater understanding. Thus, by living in a world where everyone already agrees with us, we have lost the ability to dialogue, learn, and grow.

So, I propose that we intentionally read ideas from news sites and web pages that we disagree with. Seek those out.

I propose that we engage in thoughtful, respectful conversations with people we disagree with…in person…over coffee…over beer…over a meal. Don’t do it on Facebook. Don’t do it by email. Don’t do it by texting. Have a real conversation, face to face.

You in?

If so, go ahead and click on that “Like” button!