5 Principles for Living a Great Story

When I speak to young leaders, there is one question that always gets them to pause and think:

How would you like your story to be read in 20 years?

It’s a question that should make you pause and think too. It changed the course of my life. I got to a point in my life I decided to live purposefully and with intentionality; I wanted to make impact, influence lives and live a great story for God’s glory. Yes, I resolved not to waste my life.

How would you like to be remembered?

The pain of lost years

Don’t bluff this out, don’t scorn this message; I know some who did and are telling a rather different and difficult story today. They ignored the signs that they were living a false story. They believed a lie.

The result of not living a purposeful, God-intended life can be damaging. The pain of lost years can be very deep. 

But you don’t have to experience that kind of unnecessary pain. You have a chance to ensure you don’t throw your life away. You have an opportunity to change course today, so you can live the story worth talking about now and after you’re gone.

5 principles for living a great story

I know of five practical and personal principles for living a great story. If you are serious about living (and leaving) a lasting legacy, you need to:

• Realize: This is where you need to start. Where are you now? Are you living a great story? What is your destination? Do you know where you ought to be going? Have you deviated off course? Nothing changes until there’s a personal realization of your current state in relation to your expected end.

• Resolve: Realisation  is not enough; you need a deep resolve to change, not a mere list of resolutions. And it begins in the mind and heart – when you change your mindset, you are more likely to act on the need for change. See Romans 12:2.

• Commit: All resolve is wasted without commitment to the change process. What have you resolved would help you live more purposefully? Spend less time on social media? Don’t hesitate! Get a new job? See it through!! Serve in your local church or commit to a community cause? Do it!!!

Commitment breeds confidence; when you commit, you get better at living your story.

• Connect: Solitude will kill your story – so connect! Serve others with your story, your passion and your talent. Connect with people who will help you grow on your journey.

• Trust: The road ahead will be tough and painful. Living a great story comes with pain. But you need to trust the One who is the Author of the Greatest Story ever lived. Trust God with your story and let Him make ‘awesome’ out of yours.

Your outcome today is a product of yesterday and tomorrow will be the outcome of today. Don’t waste your life.

Image courtesy of Arjun Chhabra | Flickr