First Things First

This is my first attempt at blogging. First attempt?! Yes, this is something new for me, but I think it'll be fun. One of my favorite topics in life is leadership. Taking ownership of the fact that you are impacting someone at all times is a lot to live with, but invaluable when you realize the potential of that statement. Thoughts, words, actions, reactions, lifestyle choices... they all have an effect on the world around us. It is easy to be short-sighted and pretend like decisions are momentary actions that do not live on, but the reality is that they stay with us forever.

Right now, you are the sum total of the choices you have made up to this point in your life. Children like to point fingers and say, "it was his fault," when they get caught or asked what is going on. They immediately try to redirect any negatives to someone else and retain all the positives for themselves. It's human nature to do this. So if they choose to write on the walls with a friend, when they're caught everyone wants to turn the blame on someone else. If they can get someone to believe it wasn't their fault, then they don't have to live with the consequences.

Our lives are the same way. We make choices everyday to write or not to write a wall, so to speak. We also get to live with the consequences of our actions. I had a teacher who used to say something like, when you point your finger at someone else to blame them there are three other fingers pointing back at you. That statement has remained with me since I was in elementary school. Finger-pointing goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. What did she do when God talked to her? She pointed her finger instantly toward the serpent. It was another creature's fault that she had done something wrong. Make a decision to take ownership of your life and help lead others too.

So, what do you do if you are a person without leadership/ownership qualities? Make a shift today! You can do it! You are a leader. Here are some steps that point you toward a life a leadership:

1. Live life with God at the center
2. Recognize responsibility
3. Value every moment of your life
4. Take ownership of your actions

Songs seem to help me remember important times in life. As you decide to make a shift and become a true leader for yourself and others, maybe a song will help you remember this moment. Jennifer Hallam has a song titled All For Us. Buy it on iTunes to remind yourself that what He did for us is worth living a life of leadership.