"Is perfection an option for you?"

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 The Journal of Health Psychology published a report based on a six-and-a-half year study of Canadians that finds that perfectionists are about 51% more likely to die earlier than those who give themselves a break.

The study suggests that the stress and inner turmoil of doing life “just right” created a lifestyle that ends life more quickly than for those who have a more relaxed disposition.

It seems to me, as I listen to my life, that earlier in my life I did try very, very hard to do life “just right.” As if, “just right” was possible.

Now, I’m more concerned with “good enough is good enough.” And my productivity is higher and my family says my personality is easier to live with.

What created the change for me? I realized one day that if I can do life “just right,” I really have no need for God to forgive me, redeem my efforts, and transform my life. So I’m listening to life so I can make a life of forgiveness, redemption, and transformation that I can share with you. This much I can do right.

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"So who’s listening these days?"

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 Now before you answer, think about it for just a second. We now have more ways to share more information—and opinions—than we’ve ever had before. As if email and voicemail weren’t enough, now there’s Facebook and twitter in which anyone who claims to know anything about whatever can rattle and prattle on endlessly, proving a personal point to anybody that will pay attention.

While once there was only the radio and phonograph, now there’s the iPod and mp3 player and satellite radio and Internet radio. They’ll gladly fill any of your awkward silence with everything from your personal music playlist to your favorite news/talk opinions.

So it occurred to me today to wonder, “Who’s listening to all of this?” and to coach you to do yourself one favor at some point today: Sit in silence for 10 minutes. Such silence keeps the maddening crowd at bay for at least a little while and helps you hear, then listen to, God…who’s waiting to speak with you.

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"Is your life spinning out of control?"

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 It was a beautiful day so my friend and I decided to eat out on the deck of our chosen restaurant.

 I enjoyed the gorgeous location, just off a river, and was listening to life for what God had to say. I looked next door and noticed another restaurant had outside seating as well, but it was closed. Evidently it had been closed for some time. A ceiling fan hung from the ceiling and I saw a bird fly onto the top of it with a stick in its mouth. The bird repeated these trips numerous times.  

My friend and I finished our meal, and I asked if we could walk over closer to the ceiling fan. I discovered there that the bird was building its nest on top of the ceiling blade. And I thought to myself, “What happens when someone turns it on?”

You and I, like this bird, build our enterprises with good intentions. But in a blink of an eye, life changes. What we once thought was secure, is no longer.

For those times when your life spins out of control and you’re at a loss to recover, listen to life for God.

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"Do you keep an “ought to” list or a “want to” list?"

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 So what kind of lists do you keep? Not just the ones you write down, but the ones running around in your head—what do you call those lists?

Do you keep an “ought to” list in mind? You know, I “ought to” do this. I “ought to” do that. I guess most of us do. I’m not exactly sure where we get these lists.

What about a “want to” list? Do you keep one of those in mind? The kind where you list your heart’s desires, your soul’s longings, your spirit’s passion.

Which list gets more of your daily attention?

If you discovered today that you’ll die around 8PM, which list would you go to—the “ought to” or the “want to”?  

Yea, I thought so. Your “want to” list is a part of your spiritual DNA that God put in you. Your “ought to” list was installed by someone else.

Today, remember that you’re free to choose which list to live from. Use your freedom wisely and choose God’s list, okay? 

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"What are your core values?"

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 I received an email recently with the subject line: “I made a mistake and I’m sorry.” I recognized the sender as someone who wants me to do business with him. I’ve benefited from his business advice before so I opened the email, mostly intrigued by his subject. It’s not every day a business person admits a mistake of any kind…

This mistake was about a coaching program he offers that lasts a year. He condensed it and planned to offer it as a 4-month program until someone in his year-long program reminded him that, according to his promotional information, this program was the only kind in which he offered one-on-one coaching. He admitted that he forgot having said that, but nonetheless was cancelling the shorter program. He said, “...you already know I’m committed to being a prolific marketer. But I am also just as committed to being an honest one.”

Would you say this guy listens to life and makes a life, not just a living? And that one of his core values is honesty? What are your core values?

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