I am currently reading the last chapter of Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!, an interesting motivational book written by the late Robert H. Schuller. While at the second last chapter titled Prayer: The Power That Pulls Everything Together Successfully, I was deeply inspired by the way he demystified the word RENEW. At this point, it will b important to ask yourself these two questions:
- How do you renew your strength and spirit when experiencing the low moments of life?
- How do you pick yourself up in time to prevent a burnout? (as in how tough are you?)
Each letter of the word RENEW was defined as below:
R: Review your past.
Ask yourself questions such as Where have I come from? What was keeping me going? Only then will you be able to have complete check of where you have come from and where you are going.
E: Examine all the possibilities.
Ask yourself this question: What would you set as your goals if . . .? The aim here is to examine all the far more possibilities than we think that are in existence.
N: Name the price you’re willing to pay.
What price are you willing to pay to achieve that goal/dream? Only then will you be able to make it.
E: Elect the best possibility, no matter what the price.
Always make it a point to choose the best; shun mediocrity. Mediocrity has a way of shriveling up enthusiasm. But
commitment to excellence taps and incredible source of energy. Elect the best, no matter
what the price tag.
W: Wait and work.
Probably nothing is more difficult than to keep waiting, working, plodding, and maintaining patience through dark times. But we must. And in God’s good time, hope and help will come our way. “Wait on the Lord” in prayer and He will renew a dream. Wait on the Lord, and He will strengthen you heart!
In renewing your energy and through the practice of possibility thinking will you be able to go through tough times.
In addition, there is a certain excerpt at the end of the chapter from the Reader’s Digest of December 1982 that encourages us to adopt the practice of prayer and also waiting on the will of God. It is titled Do It Anyway and I’d like to share it below:
DO IT ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by
the smallest people with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for some underdogs anyway.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
The main point of the excerpt is to help one find joy and light in doing God’s will regardless of how people will interpret it or accept it. Remember to DO IT ANYWAY regardless of the fear and countless doubts that cloud your mind.
kanyanga 