5 Habits That Can Change Your Life

by Barbara Latta

Have you ever wondered what makes successful people able to reach goals and become the top achievers in their fields?

Napoleon Hill once interviewed 500 of the wealthiest people in America to determine if there were common factors in their success. One of the traits all these people had in common was decisiveness. They learned to make decisions promptly. An important decision we can make is to start now establishing habits that will bring change to our lives.

Well-known speaker and author John Maxwell says he grows by practicing his “Rule of Five." Every day he:

Reads – by doing this he is constantly feeding his mind.

Files – By feeding his mind, he developed a way to organize the ideas and messages that have inspired him.

Writes – As an author, Maxwell is constantly writing to develop teachings and fundamentals to help others.

Thinks – Sometimes he simply sits and thinks about solving problems, getting new ideas and  receiving from God new opportunities for growth.

Questions – Asking questions opens doors and invites inspiration.

Your strategies don’t have to be the same as someone else’s. You determine what you need to do for change to happen in your life. The key is consistency. The difference will be made by sticking to the action. In time, the changes you want will start to become evident and new habits will form that will become part of your daily activities. I have heard it said, “Your destiny is hidden in your daily routine.” Something you do every day can lead to the fulfillment of your dreams and goals.

“Record the vision and write it on tablets that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it for it will certainly come, it will not delay” Habakkuk 2:2-3 (Strong’s NASB).

Do you see what verse 3 says? The vision hastens toward the goal, it will not fail. You must keep the vision before you to keep it alive. Though it tarries, wait for it. Goals take time to come to fruition, but we must wait for them to develop.

  

Write clearly defined goals and read them out loud and review them every day. We can’t just sit around and wish something would change. Action is required. Write them down so you can see what you are aspiring to, read the list out loud so your ears can hear you speak your desired achievements for change.

My five habits I am establishing are:

• Get up an hour earlier every day to read the Bible, pray, and write.
• Use my lunch hour at work to read and write in my journal.
• Walk for 15-20 minutes after I get home from work.
• Read something in a leadership book every day.
• Read in a Christian book every day to learn from other leaders.

Stay focused, stay consistent and don't give up.

What five strategies can you implement to make a difference in your life?