HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF MONUMENTAL IMPACT

As I stared at my laptop screen, scanning my mental repertoire for a central idea around which to weave this article, I remembered the words of Calvin Coolidge, “We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.” The son of a village storekeeper, Coolidge slowly and methodically worked his way up the political ladder from councilman in Northampton to become the thirtieth president of the United States of America. Coolidge’s life, for me, is a definitive portrait of how commitment to a process of personal development can literally transform one’s fortunes, empowering one to become an asset not only to oneself but to the society at large. Nearly everyone reading this article has big dreams. Although the pressure of situations and circumstances often attempt to wrest our dreams from us, we all have this unquenchable thirst for relevance. There is a voice in our heart of hearts that keeps calling us to a higher place of impact. Everyone wants to become a force to reckon with. And that’s alright; we are all born with an innate desire to live a life of monumental impact, recreating our world and leaving a mark in the sands of time. The good news is, it is possible. However, it does not come without some effort on our part. A monumental life is in many ways like a building; we construct it brick by brick, day after day, following the pre-designed architectural plan until we have the preconceived structure. From the foregoing, we can see that it is not enough to have a dream; more importantly, we must have a plan and the commitment to follow through with that plan. Can you confidently say that you have a plan for your life? Where do you see yourself ten years from now? Do you have it written? If it is not written, it is not a plan. These questions may seem irrelevant to you; but ten years down the road, you will look back and remember you once had the opportunity to address them. Living without a plan is leaving your life at the mercy of circumstantial forces. With a life plan, you have an idea where you're headed and you have the clarity of mind to steer yourself in that direction. You may have to tweak the plan as different realities unfold, but you will never go completely off track. The number of people drifting through life without clear direction is astonishing. The vast majority are simply going through the motions of everyday life without a clearly defined life mission and appropriate support systems to accomplish that mission. Pulitzer-winning writer Katherine Anne Porter observed, “I am appalled at the aimlessness of most people’s lives. Fifty percent don't pay attention to where they are going; forty percent are undecided and will go in any direction. Only ten percent know what they want, and even all of them don’t go toward it.” Having a plan keeps us focused and focus helps to steer our life in the right direction. Without it, life is, directionless, purposeless, unguided and unpredictable. If you cannot honestly say that you have a written plan, mission statement or vision statement for your life, then you probably don't have a clear idea where your life is headed. This makes you an easy target for indecision, confusion and delusion which ultimately sap you of your creative capabilities, resulting in a life of frustration. If that describes your situation, don’t despair; I have written this article to help you as I have been through the process myself. Regardless of your condition, you can start re-writing your story now. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Are you willing to take that step now? You see, it is your decision; not your condition, that determines your destiny. Every conception begins with a thought; every manifestation begins with a decision. You can start changing your life by making a simple decision now. Like a skilful architect and master builder, develop a plan for your life and commit yourself to making small incremental changes in your daily routine to bring your life into alignment with that plan. As you adjust your daily routine to reflect your new commitment, you will begin to develop great habits which form the foundation for predictable success. That is how to live a life of monumental impact. We're in this together. And I'm here to help. You will succeed.