Since I just turned 40 on Friday, I figured I’d share 40 lessons I learned in 40 years. No particular order.
Just to be clear, these are my personal lessons. Hopefully they do help you. Let me know which one resonates with you the most or what you might add!
-
Reading is good for the soul.
-
Move every day.
-
Be present.
-
Be thankful. Tell people I love them.
-
Always give before I expect to receive.
-
Be intentional about thoughts. If not, they can go dark quickly.
-
Do solitude.
-
Rest for a 24 hour period each week (i.e. Sabbath).
-
Go to bed and wake-up the same time every day.
-
Develop the skill of goal setting.
-
Ask for help if needed (it is).
-
Jesus first – Ask God to direct my path each day.
-
Relationships trump all else.
-
Spend most of my time working in my unique gifts/strengths.
-
Everything matters – How you do the little things is how you do everything.
-
Save and invest a portion of all I make.
-
Have fun/laugh every day.
-
Forgive people.
-
Let go of the past and move on.
-
Be the friend and leader I would want.
-
Have a “life team.”
-
The right coach is one of the best investments you can make.
-
Nothing will beat persistence, perseverance, and consistency.
-
Be energetic and passionate.
-
Pray.
-
Praise people.
-
Have grace for others and myself.
-
Time is the most valuable thing I have. Pretend I had to pay $10 for every minute. How would I spend it?
-
Expect to win.
-
Expect to experience problems, failures, and loss.
-
Tell and show my kids how much I love and believe in them.
-
Love my wife and be willing to lay down my life to serve her.
-
See people how they could be rather than as they are.
-
Time is fleeting – All successful people have some sense of urgency.
-
Work really hard on yourself. It’s worth it.
-
Make solitude a habit
-
Be 15 minutes early. This is a challenge for me.
-
Never write an e-mail while emotionally charged.
-
Be long-term minded.
-
Don’t ignore sadness, fear, and anger. It will come out one way or another.