Do 1 Thing

Back on February 25th I blogged about an idea I had to determine and maximize your roles in life. If you haven't read that post or have forgotten it, go back and check it out.  It is called "A Simple Test."  Today I am going to encourage you to Do 1 Thing.  I want you to have a list of your roles in life readily available (either mentally or physically).  I want you to think about the most important parts of your life.  The People and Activities you wouldn't give up for $1,000,000.  Ok got 'em?  Mine are 1.) Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ 2.)  My Wife 3.)  My Boys 4.)  My extended Family 5.) Teaching and Leading Young People as a Full-Time Job 6.)  Coaching Basketball and Soccer 7.)  My relationships with Friends 8.)  Reading 9.)  Watching Sports on TV.  These are pretty much the activities that I want to be defined by and where I want to spend most of my effort and energy. Yours may be different (I am guessing people are near the top of your list) but we are probably pretty similar.  Values and Beliefs at the top, followed by family, followed by career and then some hobbies.

My encouragement today is to Do 1 Thing to benefit each of these roles this week above and beyond what you typically do.  When we merely accomplish the basics in each role we pretty much survive from one week to the next.  In our career we earn enough to pay the bills and hopefully save a little, our family gets our basic time and the relationships are preserved for another week.  Our spouses get just enough attention to keep them minimally satisfied.  I am challenging you and me to go 1 step further in each category than just the basics.  Spend time in prayer (or however you express your values and beliefs) that is above and beyond.  Serve someone, give a little more time at work, enhance your quality time with your family.  Whatever it is, find a way to do something extra in each category.  Let's say you devote an extra hour this week to each category.  10 hours may sound like a lot, but I bet if we turn off the TV and put down the smart phones we can get it done.

What are the advantages of Doing 1 Thing this week?

1.)  We move from merely surviving and advancing to a new week to thriving and seeking a better life.  There is great power that comes when we are in control.  When we exert the control over our lives that allows us to do extra things we get a great sense of accomplishment.  We feel empowered.  We feel more like we control our destinies and our situations instead of them controlling us.

2.) There is great momentum that comes by simply Doing 1 Thing.  What may start off slow can quickly build steam and become a great force.  Even the Mississippi River starts out very small, but as it grows it gains more and more water and thus power and prestige.  You can live the same way.  Start small and see your small 1 Thing multiply throughout the coming weeks.

3.)  The Power of Being Proactive.  It may sound like a huge requirement to give up 10 hours over the next week.  I believe that the time will pay incredible dividends.  When we are proactive now it saves time later.  Let me give you an example.  Let's say my wife and I spend 2 hours a week in disagreements and miscommunications (Probably low for us since I can be difficult some days).  What if we took an hour each week to go on a coffee date.  We sat down without phones or boys or anything else to distract us.  We are able to talk and have great communication.  We plan the week ahead and just get very open with each other.  My guess is that those 2 hours spent in misunderstandings the next week will shrink to virtually nothing.  I just saved myself an hour.  What if I stay at work an extra 30 minutes once a week.  I can get organized and ahead of potential problems.  Again I am saving myself time.  Being proactive allows me to operate in the realm of "What is Important in Life?" instead of in the realm of "I have to rush around to take care of this emergency."

Give it a try this week.  Write down 7-10 areas of your life that you consider most important to you.  Find an extra 30 -60 minutes this week to do 1 Thing Extra in each area.  I am betting the time pays off and you will see significant growth in that area of your life.