Show Up and Do It Anyways

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this glorious Friday afternoon in my Sweet Home Alabama! 😊

What do you do when you don’t feel like doing something? I am not talking about not feeling like going to a movie or going out to eat? No, I am talking about when you don’t feel like doing something that is a commitment you have made, a core value or principle in your life. What do you do then? I want to encourage us today to honor our commitments, values, and principles, regardless of how we feel! To take the next step in faith regardless of how we feel in the moment or even the day, month or year, honoring who we are and the decisions we have made!

I remind myself, and tell my family regularly, it is the things that we consistently do that will determine the lives we live. Any of us can get caught up in the moment and do something a time or two, however this will not affect change – good or bad. If I want to learn and grow, to become all I am capable of becoming, I must consistently show up and do the things that will lead me to become the best I am capable of becoming. Here is the deal; we all want to be great when our greatness is needed, however are we preparing every day for those moments?

I want to talk specifically about three areas.

First, our spirituality. I am starting here because I have found, and I believe, that this is the key to the joy and peace we all seek, regardless of how we feel or the circumstances we are experiencing in life. I can’t only read the Bible or pray when things are tough, or I want something and expect that I am going to experience a peace that goes beyond all understanding or to live a joyful life. It is through the consistent reading of the Word that I learn, and it is through consistent prayer that I develop a personal relationship with Jesus, where the Holy Spirit can convict, mold and shape me. Do I always feel like reading the Bible or praying? Not necessarily. However, I always want joy and peace. With this, regardless of how I feel, I read my Bible and pray.

How about our families? Do I always feel like sacrificing for my family? Pouring into them? Doing things for them? No, not always. However, I do want what is best for them. I do love them with all of my heart, and I want them to flourish and become all that they are capable of becoming. I want to do everything I can to help them accomplish their goals and dreams. With this, regardless of how I feel, I show up every day and love, care for, and serve them to the very best of my ability.

And how about ourselves? Do I always feel like doing the things I need to do to enable me to become the man, husband, father, leader, and friend that I was created to be? Again, not always. I am blessed, or perhaps it is the stage of life I am in, but most days I do feel like doing those things. But on the days I don’t, I still do them because I know that as I become a better man, husband, father, leader, and friend, everyone and everything around me becomes better too.

One more thing I feel I should tell you; I have found on the days that I don’t feel like doing something and I do them anyways, these are usually the best days. When I read my Bible when I don’t feel like doing so, I read and understand a scripture in a way that I never understood it before. That when I pray on days that I don’t feel like praying, the Holy Spirit convicts me powerfully about something. That when I show up for my family on the days I don’t feel it, we have the best time together or I am there in a moment when someone really needed me. And when I do the things for myself to grow as a man, husband, father, leader, and friend, even on the days that I don’t feel like it, I like the man that looks back at me in the mirror before I go to bed at night.

Yes, life can be exhausting. There are times we don’t feel like doing things. I want to encourage us all to show up and do it anyways. Our future selves, and those we love the most, will be grateful we did!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend, please cherish your precious family, and please stay well! 😊

Kev