Look Not Behind Thee


It’s a new year.

And of course, we all have at least thought about what our goals are for 2014.  Sometimes we may not want to even try for goals because we have experienced failure in the past.  Maybe we are bitter at where life has “brought” us up to this point.  Maybe we can’t let the past go.

But we should remember this:

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely.  –Henry Ford

Lot’s wife had the opportunity to begin again.  She didn’t take it.  Really, she didn’t just “look” back, she yearned for what she didn’t want to leave behind.  She had comfort there and was unwilling to leave that comfort zone.  She had no faith in what the Lord had in store for her.

What comfort zone are we wrapped up snugly in?  And why are we so unwilling to leave it for frontiers unknown?  What are we afraid of?  Failure?  Pain?  Disappointment?

We must make a choice between suffering the pain of making mistakes (often inaccurately equated with failure) or the pain of regret.  I mean, let’s face it….that’s the choice.  Because none of us will pursue a goal without making mistakes.  But nearly every worthy goal left unpursued will become a regret.

If we fail to give our best personal self and undivided time to those who are truly important to us, one day we will regret it.  –Dieter F. Uchtdorf

This quote applies not only to loved ones but to ourselves.  We should be truly important to ourselves!  And if we don’t give our best personal selves TO ourselves in order to achieve our goals, we will be filled with regret and remorse.

As we give our best selves to ourselves and our loved ones, let’s remember to be kind to us.  Let’s remember that we improve ourselves in small, consistent ways.  Progress, not perfection.   Steady, persistent improvements in our lives will yield amazing results.

My grandfather used to love to ask me this question:  If I paid you a penny the first day but doubled that pay each day after that for a whole month would you work for me?   The total after 30 days is $5,368,709.12!!!!  But it all started with one little penny.

Go ahead.  Invest a penny in 2014.

2 comments

  1. niki says:

    That was a great message! Thank you Julie! My favorite part of the video was when the guy was describing the story of Lot and he said , "Lot said,' baby, we gotta go." hahahaha that was great!

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