“I can affect change by transforming the only thing I ever had control over in the first place and that is myself.” – Deepak Chopra

“The greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” – Lao Tzu

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” – Max Depree

“NOTHING happens until the pain of REMAINING THE SAME outweighs the pain of CHANGE.” – Arthur Burt

The other day, I found a quote by John Maxwell that I’d like to share:

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.  The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

So simply, but so profound.  Easy to say, but hard to do!  But is it really?

In the 64^th chapter of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  Can we commit to taking a single step each day, as a part of our daily routine, toward a better, more successful life?  Can we consciously and with intention transform ourselves daily – moving toward a higher awareness, an advanced way of thinking, and becoming someone who has a greater personal impact on those who surround us?

It’s funny how we often attempt to change our environment, our circumstances, and the people around us – all in a manner that suits our individual happiness.  “If only my wife would act differently!” “Why can’t they make work a better place to be?”  “Why can’t the government get more involved and change society for the better?”   

But so much of life cannot be changed.  We cannot instantly change a diagnosis, the habitual behaviors of others, or the values and principles of the corporation we work for.  Some of the situations and circumstances within our lives, those that have been years in the making, cannot be quickly undone or their consequences nullified with any kind of haste. 

But I love how Deepak Chopra reminds us that true change, lasting transformation in our lives can only be found within the singular thing we have ever had complete control over – and that my friend is ourselves.   In fact, Lao Tzu implies that self-transformation is the greatest gift we can give to others.  By changing ourselves, we change everything around us 🙂

But what kind of change, what kind of self-transformation are we talking about?

Like I mentioned earlier, it lies within us – within the spiritual nature of who we are and how we see things.

Today, can I take a single step from doubt to expectancy?  Can I remove my fear of something within my life never taking place or my skepticism behind a dying dream and replace it with expectancy – an unrelenting assurance that my dreams and desires WILL come to fruition?  Can I replace distrust and disbelief with hope and anticipation?

Can I align more of my thinking toward how I can give and serve more versus keeping score of how unfairly I am treated?  Can I put thoughts of mistreatment and self-loathing behind me and replace them with thoughts of loving devotion to family and friends – making a difference in the lives of others FIRST?

Can we transform our thinking from self-reliance and self-awareness to one of God-awareness, Divine timing, and created purpose?  Can we eliminate thinking we are all we have, that all things solely rest upon our shoulders, and that we must PERFECTLY act at the PERFECT time?  Instead, can we embrace that our times are in the loving hands of the Creator, that all things happen according to His gracious will, and hold fast to the idea there is a deeper purpose that lies behind the people we meet, the issues we encounter, and the difficulties we face?

Can you see the higher level of thinking, the broader levels of awareness, and the greater, more significant impact we can have on the quality of our life and the lives that surround us?  Can you see how focusing on SELF-TRANSFORMATION results in true, lasting change – regardless of what is occurring around you?  Most importantly, do you see how transformation begins within, that it focuses on what you believe, how you think, thus affecting your actions and behaviors?

Transformation, change, is within your grasp!  You have control over it.  And it begins with a single, daily step – a single, conscious decision to change a mindset, a belief, or a way of thinking.  But like Max Depree stated earlier, if we remain what we are, we can never become what we desire to be.

So here is a challenge!

Take a small piece of paper – like an index card or Post-It note, and write the word “TRANSFORM” on it.  Hang that reminder note somewhere it can be seen daily – on the cupboard door where you store your coffee cup, on the mirror in your bathroom, or on your personal computer screen.

Let it instigate that daily change that John Maxwell describes above – creating a new, more successful way of thinking.  Then choose ONE thing (take just ONE step) toward self-transformation – that thousand mile journey that requires you to start with a single step.

Look around the landscape of your life.  What personal transformation is needed most right now?  Is it an attitude of expectancy and hopefulness, a single action that serves someone else’s need, or a constant awareness that God is in control of all events and the divine timing behind them?  Is it embracing the idea of waiting on and resting in God versus being fretful about what to do next?  Is it simply being the type of person that makes work a better place to be today or complimenting others in a way that promotes their own positive self-image?

What single thing will you commit to doing EACH DAY that will TRANSFORM YOU?  The possibilities are endless my friend and the results are nothing short of life-changing 🙂

May God bless each of you today and always!