Soul Food Revolution

Our last principle that we are highlighting this week seems the most simplistic on the surface, but requires the most personal strength of all: persistence.

Knowing that I have already made changes in my life that will last forever, today I insert the final piece of the puzzle. I posses the greatest power ever bestowed upon mankind, the power of choice. Today, I choose to persist without exception. I know the outcome I desire. I hold fast to my dreams. I stay the course. I do not quit. I will persist without exception. I will continue despite exhaustion. I compare myself to my potential. I am not average. I see exhaustion as a precursor to victory. By persisting without exception, my outcome-my success- is assured. I will persist without exception. I focus on results. To achieve the results I desire, it is not even necessary that I enjoy the process. It is only important that I continue the process with my eyes on the outcome. An athlete does not enjoy the pain of training; an athlete enjoys the results of having trained. A young falcon is pushed from the nest, afraid and tumbling from the cliff. The pain of learning to fly cannot be an enjoyable experience, but the anguish of learning to fly is quickly forgotten as the falcon soars to the heavens. I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith. In Jeremiah, my Creator declares, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ From this day forward, I will claim a faith in the certainty of my future. I have faith in my future. I do not look to the left or right. I look forward. I can only persist. For me, faith will always be a sounder guide than reason because reason can only go so far-faith has no limits. I will expect miracles in my life because faith produces them every day. I will believe in the future that I do not see. That is faith. And the reward of this faith is to see the future I believed. I will continue despite exhaustion. I focus on results. I am a person of great faith. I will persist without exception.

Excerpt taken from The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews. Also, follow Andy on Twitter.

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Today’s principle, the third in our series highlighting author Andy Andrews is called “I am a person of action.”

Beginning today, I will create a new future by creating a new me. My future is immediate. I will grasp it in both hands and carry it with running feet. When I am faced with the choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act! I seize the moment. I choose now. I am a person of action. I am energetic. I move quickly. I will create a habit of lively behavior. I will walk with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. The lifeblood rushing through my veins is urging me upward and forward into activity and accomplishment. Wealth and prosperity hide from the sluggard, but rich rewards come to the person who moves quickly. I am a person of action. I inspire others with my activity. I am a leader. Leading is doing. To lead, I must move forward. My activity will create a wave of success for the people who follow. My activity will be consistent. This will instill confidence in my leadership. As a leader, I have the ability to encourage and inspire others to greatness. It is true: an army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep. I am a person of action. I can make a decision. I can make it now. God has given me a healthy mind to gather and sort information and the courage to come to a conclusion. My constitution is strong and my pathway clear. Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly. My decisions come quickly, they lead to victory. I am a person of action. I am daring. I am courageous. Fear no longer has a place in my life. I have exposed fear as a vapor, an impostor that never had any power over me in the first place. I do not fear failure, for in my life, failure is a myth. Failure exists only for the person who quits. I do not quit. I am courageous. I am a leader. I seize the moment. I choose now. I am a person of action.

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“We can’t depend on ourselves.” This statement was made in a recent interview by Michael Osterholm, the head of the Center for Infections Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. This statement was made in reference to what America would do if a true pandemic came about. “We can’t depend on ourselves” he said.

The funny part of this story to me is that pandemics occur everyday in some form or another. They happen through the recent rising climate of job layoffs. They happen through divorce or death. Through addictions and poverty. Through debt and acts of hate. A pandemic occurs every moment in all the world. So really the answer to the question is given everyday. It is given in the way we handle stress. It is given in the way we treat one another. It is given in the way we sacrifice for someone. It is given in the way we live. And Mr. Osterholm is right, ‘we can’t depend on ourselves.’

If this statement is true, then who or what do you depend on? You cannot live life alone. You cannot survive alone. You cannot overcome hardships or celebrate victories alone. So if we can’t depend on ourselves, then who or what do we depend on?

photo credit: qualla

What did you accomplish today? It’s a question I continually ask myself. I’m one that comes from the school of thought that states it’s always better to focus on the positive than the negative. In my days of retail management, I was taught a great lesson in dealing with people: it takes 3 comments of praise to overcome a comment of confrontation or negativity. Now, I would like to apply this principle to you. Actually, I would like YOU to apply this principle to YOURSELF! Encourage yourself. Engage yourself. I know I’m not the only one with that little conversation going on in my head all day long. Constantly telling ourselves we can be successful. Or reminding ourselves that we are making the right choice. Maybe clearing out the confusion in our minds of the direction we are headed. I’m learning that the best way to affirm our actions in life is to simply accomplish something. Be successful today at something simple. Take a moment to celebrate then move on to the next project.

So, what did you accomplish today? I would love for you to share your accomplishment with our Soul Food community. Doesn’t matter how big or small. We want to know what you accomplished! It’s simple: just post in the comments below, anonymously if you like, and share your short story of accomplishment. We will all celebrate with you!