The Process of Personal Transformation: Think First, Then Do

Action Begins In the Mind

Series Links

Think First

The last essay posted in this series ended with this thought:

As transformation relates to the rest of our life, there is an old saying, “Insanity is doing the same things over and over again, yet expecting different results”.

Simply stated, if you want to change the outcome of your life, you must change what you put into your life.

Action Step: Renew your dreams

You may need to reach deep down inside to find your dreams, but they are there. They have become buried by an avalanche of negative thoughts, self-doubt, ridicule, and social confines.

There is only one way to gain victory over these enemies of the spirit. There is only one way to open up the treasure chest of your forgotten dreams. You must become an expert with the mental jackhammer and shovel.

On the highway of life, the surface layers of fear, doubt, emotional wounds, and social stigma have become hardened over the years, to the point that they seem impenetrable. And they keep getting paved over and over again with new layers as we continue down the same old road.

Just as a blade of grass, sprouting up from a long-dormant seed seems to find and push its way up through the slightest crack in the surface, our dreams are waiting for the tiniest ray of sunshine to bring them to life.

Action Step: Commit to following through

Don't quit when the going gets tough or you can't see the way ahead. Once you start, don't stop. Do something every single day towards your dream. Little or big, it doesn’t matter. It’s forward progress. There will be adjustments along the way, but we must keep going.

If we are truly and diligently seeking the mind and will of God on a matter, then we must believe that He is guiding us in the right direction. When obstacles pop up or a bend in the road seems unfamiliar, trust Him.

Ask for wisdom (ref. James 1:5). Unless we have purposely left the path that God has shown us, then we must trust that we are still on the right path.

We should examine ourselves periodically to make sure that our heart is still focused on Him and not ourselves. Always acknowledge that we are advancing in His strength and not our own (ref. John 15:4-5)

“… for without me ye can do nothing.” - Jesus

Action Step: Find and use the right tools

When our lives have been paved with years of negative attitudes, ineffective philosophies, and unproductive actions, it will take some considerable work to break up the surface, so your dreams can find enough light to sprout and grow.

The good news is that many special tools have been specifically developed to do the hard work. Most of these tools will cost you nothing.

Compared to what you will lose by not taking action, however, shelling out a few bucks is more than worth it. We must program our minds to think of these tools as investments, not expenditures.

Books - a simple tool that costs little to no money.

The Bible:

The best “self-help” book ever written. The Bible is full of wisdom and practical advice for living productive, fulfilling lives. Here is a taste of what you will find:

• Philippians 4:6-7 & 13

• 2 Timothy 1:7

• Mark 9:23

• Matthew 7:7-8

• Jeremiah 33:3

• 1 Chronicles 4:10

• Ephesians 3:20-21

• Joshua 1:8

• Exodus 35:30-35

Memorize these verses, personalize them, then expand your study. Commit to reading a proverb a day. It is not an accident that there are 31 Proverbs in the Bible.

If you truly want to change, I suggest reading and studying Ephesians 4:17-32 to see what a transformed life looks like.

Build a Personal Library

Become a connoisseur of good, relevant books. Read a variety of genres: self-help, how-to, focused niche, biographies, classics, fiction, adventure, etc.

Learn to recognize the kinds of books that will help you grow spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. These will have a great impact on your personal transformation.

Suggestions for your Personal Library:

Non-fiction (self-help, philosophy, How to, etc.)

Some well-known authors in this category

• Zig Ziglar

• Andy Andrews

• Bruce Wilkinson

• Jim Rohn

• Les Brown

• Bob Burg

• Dave Ramsey

• Dan Miller

• Steve Scott (Kindle Ebooks only)

• Napoleon Hill

• Jeffrey Gitomer

• Farrah Gray

• Nick Vujicic

• John Maxwell.

There are many others. Find them. Collect them. Treasure them.

Focused Niche

This section is really a sub-section of Non-fiction. Most of these authors are tightly focused on a certain segment or market. Authors to include here are Steve Scott(writing, online business), Bob Burg (sales, networking), Jim Rohn (philosophy of life), Dan Miller (finding your calling), and Jeffrey Gitomer (sales).

Best Practice: Focus on those who are already doing what you are interested in doing.

Purposeful Fiction

You may wonder why I included fiction in a personal library designed to help you with transformation. Of course, not all fiction is profitable.

There are a few authors, however, who fuel the imagination through stories of adventure and portrayals of individuals who have overcome great obstacles and hardships to become successful.

Fiction allows us to experience situations without having to go through them. We gain life experience through peering into a character's life and thought process.

Fiction can also be a gentle mirror. Often authors are free to address problems through a “back door” in which readers are more receptive because it’s not a direct laser light to his mind and heart. Some well-read authors in this category -

• G.A. Henty

• Horatio Alger

• Napoleon Hill

• George S. Clason

• Louis L'Amour

• Zane Grey

• Richard Paul Evans

• Bruce Wilkinson

• Andy Andrews

• Dan Walsh

Learn to develop a keen eye for fiction with a purpose.

Classics

Though almost all Classics are works of fiction, not all fiction is a classic work. Classics are important because they give rise to realms of possibilities. Many are based on true stories (Historical Fiction). Many general fiction authors fall into this category. Here are a few I recomend: G.A. Henty, Horatio Alger, Napoleon Hill, and George S. Clason.

Of course, the historical classics (particularly the English and ancient Greek authors of old) help broaden your intellect, so definitely delve into as many as you can handle. Your ability to comprehend and enjoy the classics will increase as you grow.

Allegorical classics, which focus on timeless truths abound. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carol, J.R.R. Tolkien, and others are universally esteemed. They should be in our libraries.

Biographies/Auto-biographies

Choose biographical works that will set your imagination on fire. This category should focus on those who have done extraordinary things or overcome extreme circumstances to accomplish the things they have done in life.

Some considerations:

• R.G. Letourneau

• Stanley Tam

• Nick Vujicic

• Farrah Gray

• Les Brown

If we are serious about transforming our lives at any age, there is no excuse. For those with limited resources, the local library is a free option. Many libraries also offer e-book and audio book resources.

A couple of other good places to find bargains are used bookstores, thrift shops, and yard sales. Some great books (and sometimes rare 1st editions) have been found at these locations for pennies.

Audio/Visual Tools

Instead of watching TV, listen to motivational speakers and other audio products that will help get you around the roadblocks of negative self-doubt, fear, and conformity.

Many good speakers do not preach Pie-in-the-sky positive thinking, but practical steps to truly getting you focused on achieving noble success vs. worldly success.

You can find quality information and teaching for little to no cost on YouTube, iTunes U, DVDs, CDs, and podcasts. There is no legitimate excuse for not having access to good, life-changing content. Your car can literally become a mobile university. Instead of listening music, which is temporal or to talk radio, which is generally negative, find a good podcast or pop in a CD.

The point is, if you are not utilizing this time to your advantage, you are wasting time. Though there are many others, Jim Rohn, Les Browns, Earl Nightingale, and Zig Ziglar (you’ll notice the overlap of names) are the ones I have benefited from the most.

Find a Mentor

Having a mentor is one of the best avenues to achieve personal transformation. A mentor is much more than a teacher. A mentor is someone to whom you are accountable. A mentor is a standard, a visible ideal to model your life after.

There are many teachers, but few mentors. A mentor does not just teach facts and figures or pass along information. A mentor leads by personal example and teaches through stories, parables, and personal experience.

Jesus was a teacher to thousands of followers, but a mentor to only twelve.

Because of the accountability factor, the ideal situation is to have a mentor who meets with you in person. When that is not possible, there are other means such as Zoom.

Though it is likely impossible to meet with some of the authors and speakers listed above, some would be considered a mentor through their published or recorded works.

In my opinion, Jim Rohn stands above all the others. Though he passed in 2009, his teaching and influence still impacts millions. He was more than a motivational speaker and writer (as a matter of fact he never wrote much). He was more than an expert in a certain field of knowledge or ability.

Jim was a philosopher. He had a unique and entertaining way of boiling life down to, as he called it, “about a half dozen things” to be successful.

Two absolute Jim Rohn “must haves” for your library, in my opinion, are The Five Major Pieces to the Life Puzzle (Audio) and Leading an Inspired Life - a compilation of his best teachiing.

Action Step: Create a clear mental picture of the person you want to become

Your vision of who you want to become and the things you want to do should be based on an assessment of your Passions, Personality, and Potential (3Ps).

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.”

What is being issued from your heart right now? What needs to change?

Circling around to the beginning of this whole series - We are the way we are because of how we think about ourselves. Humans are unique among all God's creatures in that we can change our lives by changing our thinking.

We can change by creating a clear detailed mental picture of the person we desire to be. Build confidence by “doing” in our minds what we want to do so much we feel completely comfortable when we do the same things in reality.

Many reading this are writers or aspiring writers, so let’s use that example.

If you want to be a writer, you must have a vision of yourself as a successful writer. Picture yourself in the process of writing each day. Envision yourself becoming a published author for the first time. What will it be like to receive your first check or paid subscription for something you wrote?

Generally speaking, who do you see yourself as being? Maybe a teacher, a public speaker, a pilot, a missionary or evangelist, someone who helps others change their lives for the better? The question is - What are you doing about it?

There is no limit to the areas of life that can be transformed by renewing our minds. It all boils down to action. If it stays in the mind, it’s only a dream.

That’s all well and good, but seriously, how do we get from Point A to Point B? Next week we’ll look at how to create a specific action plan to achieve the Personal Transformation you desire.

Until then, my friends - Look up.

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