Jim Lovell has a great quote.

“There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.” 

Many of us would like to think we’re in the make things happen group, but we know we’d just be answering like we do when we take one of those personality tests…

How we wish we were or how we want others to view us. 

Introspection is hard, but it’s worth the effort. One of the great challenges (and accomplishments) of life is to master yourself. True happiness comes from discipline. I know that sounds weird, but think about it. 

In order to be happy, to do the things that will make you live well, things that will serve you well, you have to master your own behavior. Be in complete control of your actions, even if you are a religious person, God wants this for you as well. 

The Bible says in Hebrews 12:11

No discipline seems pleasant as the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Discipline is the answer to so many troubles we create for ourselves. We create them out of our lack of self-control—doing things that harm us rather than serve us. 

People are so often looking for a handout. Very few are searching for an opportunity to work hard and earn (one of the best words in the English language).

Denis Prager speaks about his affinity with the word earn because it means to win something. Not to want or make some claim that you deserve it—win it. 

In ancient cultures, they didn’t have the word “earn”…only to win something. Today, we say earn meaning to obtain by service or merit. I challenge you to stop thinking in terms of earning and start thinking in terms of winning and losing.

Win the battle with yourself to do what will serve you best, what is right. Take it a step further and begin to pursue righteousness. Now you’re on a whole new trajectory. 

When you win these inner battles, changing from someone who waits for things to happen to someone who makes things happen—winning the day, as it were—your life will be changed forever. 

Don’t watch. Don’t wonder. Make. 

Best,