The biggest asset you and I have is language. We can create our life by merely speaking it into existence. It sounds simple and it is. However, it is not necessarily easy due to the roadblocks we put in our way.

First of all, we often forget that our thinking does not make anything happen. It is the actions we take that deliver the goods. The action is caused by our choice of words. The problem lies in the fact that about 90% of our day is spent reacting. No choice there.

Reaction is not an action by definition and it gives us the same thing every time. Instead of creating, we are painting by the numbers. Dont get me wrong, our reactions are useful but painting by the numbers provides a picture but you wouldnt call that art.

Our actions are tied to survival. You know, making it from one day to the next. They are not designed to provide anything other than to keep us living. Not a bad thing but there is very little aliveness in just living.

There is too much œdoing what I usually do and not enough full self-expression and creativity. Reacting all the time is a formula for sleep-walking through much of life. Full engagement in anything is not likely to happen. Too much avoiding what life has to offer rather than challenging what appears in your pathway. Have you created a pathway for yourself?

I had the privilege of working with the mens basketball team at the University of the Pacific this past month. Head Coach Bob Thomason and his staff have been working with me for many years. This was the first time in awhile that I was asked to work with the athletes and coaches.

The majority of the athletes on the team are new. Thus, the time spent in the workshop was a huge opportunity to grow their relationships with each other. My experience tells me they made as much progress in two days worth of work than they would have in a whole season.

One of the things they got to hear from each other was what each person declared they could be counted on for. One of the primary assets in being a team is the support available to each member. Enough said.

So what gets in our way? Primarily the inability to distinguish our reasons why or why not our life is the way it is from language that causes action.
In the land of reasons, which conversations fill your day? Are they conversations of opinions, judgments, excuses, story, fault, blame, good/bad, us/them? Bottom line”your reasons make no difference.

The only thing that makes any difference is the action taken. In language it sounds like this: I request, I promise, I declare, I will, I commit, etc., etc.

A simple example: I want (fill in the blank) or I will (fill in the blank). Which statement has power? There is too much œI hope somebody does this for me in œI want. œI will are action words.

If you enter the domain of action in speaking, beware. You might have to take full responsibility for what comes out of your mouth. Thats a game for grownups.

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