Have you ever seen a toddler try walking for the first time?

The first time can get pretty ugly:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Riding a bike
• Skateboarding
• Singing a solo
• Folding  your clothes
• Asking someone out for a date
• Driving a car
• Hitting a golf ball
• Cooking dinner
• Interviewing for a job
• Speaking in public
• Trying out for a team
• Recording a YouTube video

This list will grow longer with time, hopefully. As life goes on, your first try will not be your best ever. But your first will be your best at that point, based on your experience.

The toddler doesn’t give up on walking just because they fall down a few times.

You must go through ugly to get to pretty (good).

The word of God, is given – God breathed it into existence, as the Holy Spirit inspired and gave to men to record for our use.

“… more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12

How you talk with and listen to others is a great way to show respect. It’s in the manner you engage, not so much whether you agree or disagree.

Respect doesn’t mean you’re giving in to the other guy. Showing respect can be quite simple. One definition of respect is, “a courteous consideration of another person.”

You can show respect even in disagreement. Be patient in your listening, calm in your talking, and not hurried to respond when it’s your turn.

Respect is then, in part, how you treat the other person while having a conversation. Acknowledging their point of view and present your own thoughts in an understandable way.

If our debates and arguments can be exercised with restraint and respect, whether or not we have the same goal, we can learn and grow from such exchange.

Don’t be a right-fighter. Cooperative is better than combative.

What do you believe in strong enough to know when to say yes or no, turn to the left or right, keep at it or cut your losses? What’s on your “Convictions List”?

Asking yourself, “What’s the most productive thing I can do right now?” is a great question, but if you don’t have a strong belief in why you do the things you do, you’ll probably stay busy but hardly be satisfied with your day.

Coach Pete Carroll shares this belief with his players:

“In order to be successful, you must have a consistent philosophy. If you change who you are from year to year – you’re never going to be great at anything.”

Start small. Be true to who you are. This philosophy of yours – these convictions – should be rooted deep within you and articulated carefully. Quality over quantity on this exercise.

One of the keys to finding happiness in life is having some conviction about the life you’re living.

We all have a past. If we try to forget it, we ignore potential lessons. If we hang on to it … well, we might miss on present and future opportunity. Acknowledge the past. Our past is important, though not as important as our present is to our future.

We have a present. An unquiet mind or an anxious spirit might cause us to miss it. We too busy worrying about what others are or might be thinking about us. We tend to become too cautious or too hurried to figure out what’s next. Live in the present. This time is a gift. For now.

We have a future. It’ll come soon enough. Having goals is good. Preparing for future times is wise. A “When Then, Then This” thought process can be helpful “So That” you’re prepared for potential surprises. Prepare for the future. 

Acknowledge the Past. Live in the Present. Prepare for the Future.

Be aware that if there is a battle — it’s the one right in front of you, not the one behind you, nor the one still a ways down the road.

I’ve read that John Wooden grew up with a mantra his father passed along to him, and then he passed along to his players:

Don’t Whine; Don’t Complain; Don’t Make Excuses

Such sage advice to be adopted at early ages will serve you well as you grow, and grow you well as you serve.