Pastor Don’s Jumpstart 2.0 “One Thing”
What can I do today that I would feel good about if I died today?
Do you ever reach the end of a day and say to yourself, 'I don’t think I got anything done today,' or 'Today was a wash'?
Sometimes, this phenomenon happens to all of us. Our plans get derailed. A mini-crisis takes over. I get distracted. I get lazy. I wasn’t paying attention.
When this situation occurs rarely, it’s okay. We need to give ourselves a bit of grace. As they say, “S… happens.” Many life events disrupt our schedules, and these are often beyond our control.
However, when this feeling becomes a regular part of your routine, you might want to address it in a positive way. Why go to bed each night feeling like you wasted another day of your life? After all, you only have so many days.
A long time ago, I found a solution that usually works. I began a morning or “night before” routine that banished this negative feeling. Let me share it with you.
The “One Thing” method. At the start of each day, I take a few moments to mentally prepare for what’s ahead. When the day looks like it’s going to be consumed with mundane, routine tasks that sap your energy, try this.
What “one thing” can you do today to make you feel like you've achieved something you wanted to accomplish? For instance, this article is the fruit of the one thing I exercised before bed last night. Tomorrow, no matter what else I do, if I publish a blog post, I will feel good about the day.
For years, I wrote a weekly article called “Pastor Don’s Jumpstart.” I published it on Wednesdays, “hump day,” to give my readers a little inspiration to complete their week on a high note. In my files, I have dozens and dozens of Jump Start articles.
Recently, I decided that Wednesdays are still a good day for a bit of inspiration, so I want to restart that habit this week. However, there are a dozen tasks I need to complete today that could prevent me from doing so. Brew coffee, make breakfast, read—lots of reading, answer and create emails, work on my new business website, workout, go to the store, pull weeds, put up a fence around my plants to keep out the varmints, do laundry, clean the kitchen floors, make phone calls, answer text messages, and visit my CPA’s office. That’s all the stuff demanding my attention today.
However, if I finish all those tasks except this article, I’ll feel like I’ve missed a new opportunity. Hamilton, you achieved a lot today, but you didn’t complete the task you wanted to do most. You missed an opportunity. You missed your “one thing.”
Here are some pointers about your one thing.
· It must be doable, or at least the next step in a larger project.
· Decide the best time to complete your one thing. What is the backup plan if that time doesn’t work out? For me, today, the best time to write this article is right after breakfast, when I have read and responded to emails. If I delay it until later, the chances of completing it will drop significantly. Once I go outside and get sweaty, I won’t want to come back inside and write.
· Decide what you will need to get your “thing” done and make sure those items are readily available. Mine is easy. I need my writing chair and computer.
· Celebrate your accomplishment.
I believe that each day is a gift from God. If I had a terminal illness, that statement would not be an exaggeration. I would consider each day precious. Why wait until I’m dying to figure that out? Why come to the end of your life and think I spent way too many days feeling like it was wasted? I wish I could have those days back.
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
As I put the finishing touches on this piece of work, I know one thing: tonight, I will not consider this day a loss.
Most days will not be “red letter.” They will be pretty standard. But that doesn’t mean they cannot produce a warm feeling of productivity. It just takes “One Thing.”
Live Inspired,
Don Mark
P.S.
I would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and guidance in the coming months. I have teamed up with two friends to start a new ministry and business. We are passionate about its mission and the potential it offers. The ministry is called Vanguard Leaders. We will need the help of many people to bring it to life. Thank you in advance for praying about this exciting venture for God’s Kingdom.
