Choose Well

“Good choices made repeatedly over time develop into habits which have a positive lifelong influence.” These wise words—part of the Commitment to Community at the University of Dayton—are among my favorite thoughts to share when I speak about the impact of consistent kindness.

But this week, far from a microphone and the topic of kindness, that phrase ran laps through my head during a morning walk.

I was struggling big time up a hill. A hill that typically doesn’t kick my behind quite so intensely.

And it was no secret why I could’ve been passed by a snail.

The truth is…I’ve been in a bit of a funk. Slacking on the things that provide my greatest balance. Things like making smart food choices, exercising regularly, and digging into my Bible.

My lack of commitment to hitting the pavement (or the treadmill) caught up with me that day. I was feeling the burn!

I can offer compelling excuses why I’ve abandoned some healthy habits lately. But the bottom line is that I haven’t been prioritizing behaviors that need to be prioritized. I haven’t been making good choices. Period.

Our potential for change increases tremendously when we are willing to own what we can own.

Life will happen, challenges will appear, schedules will get hectic, but we remain in control of our own choices. There is always something within our power that can make a difference.

Whether there is a habit we’re trying to break or a habit we’re trying to create, we can do it! We only need to seek God’s guiding hand and keep on repeating that good choice.  Eventually we will sail up the hill.

Let’s do this.

Todays choices become tomorrow’s circumstances. Lysa Terkeurst