While we are all feeling the holiday spirit, I cannot help but think about the fact that 2015 is fastly coming to a close. This has been a year filled with victories, challenges and lessons that have all empowered me for success. I believe that reflection is one of the greatest tools ever given to humanity. In fact, I believe that one of the greatest keys to my success has been mastering the law of reflection. Every year around this time I take time to assess my life, my choices, my relationships and development and I make adjustments so I can achieve greater results. What you do not analyze you will never adjust. You can finish this year strong but first you have to see a full view of how you have lived your life moment by moment. Here are some of my greatest lessons of 2015.
1. The heart is truly the center of your world. For years I have proclaimed a message of authenticity and empowered people globally to live greater lives. However, this year I came to a powerful awareness about the human heart. The heart can be deceptive and hard to understand. Yet the heart is also very fascinating. The heart is truly the engine and essence of your life. Everything flows from your heart. You cannot reach your highest potential with a heart that is polluted. One of the great lessons of life is that an authentic life starts with living a heart-centered life. You are not a captive to your circumstances.You are often crippled by the condition of your heart. The heart contains powerful messages about our lives. We can hide a lot on the exterior but you cannot hide what is in your heart. The interior world contains intentions and desires so evident that they don't even have to be expressed with words. Your heart contains your true beliefs and reveals your true character. The one thing you cannot afford to neglect is the heart.
2. Transition is one constant you can always expect in your life. I coach and mentor leaders around the world. I am well versed at articulating transition and change. However, the only reason I am so versed at speaking about transition and change is because I go through it all the time in my life. Every year I tell my clients that you can expect change and transition in your life. Many of them look at me with bewildered looks. However, a couple of months into the year they start to understand what I mean. Sure each year holds great possibilities but each year also brings pressure. In fact, how you handle the pressure has a lot to do with the possibilities that you experience. 2015 brought major transitions in my life, my brand, my business and my calling. Transitions that are not handled properly can create trauma. What I learned this year is that transition threatens every enemy to transformation in your life. This year I found old ways of living being forced out. 2015 was the year I had to erase what I thought I knew to embrace a world I never knew. A life with little discomfort is the proof that no development is occurring.
3. Giving up too easily is the proof that you are not growing. Many people look at my life and see success. However, what they do not see is every battle that had to be fought to arrive at a place of success. I am troubled by what I see today. I see people with incredible potential that live powerless lives. I see people that just tolerate and take whatever life brings their way. We settle too quickly for failure. What I do not see is enough people willing to fight for destiny. When you find a person that loses the will to war for a greater existence you find a person that has stopped growing. You don't grow in comfort. Conflict forces us to grow. Without challenges we would live in a world defined by chains. You don't have to be gridlocked in your journey. You can develop and reach the place called greatness. What you are willing to tolerate will terminate your dreams.
4. Relationships that do not add to your life are not assets. I went into 2015 very excited about some new relationships in my life. These new partnerships seemed to be promising and I was excited about the potential of these relationships. What I learned quickly is that you cannot hide who you are. Your confession cannot camouflage your character. You create more pain in your life when you wait for a person to become who they are incapable of becoming. What you do not disallow in your life you give the power to disrespect you. I am at a point in my life where I am advancing and achieving remarkable results. However, I cannot afford to bring relationships into my life that impede my progress. Stop associating with average and start associating with achievers. Associate with individuals that don't just extract from your life but enrich your life. You have to come to a point where you are better than tolerating baggage. Remove yourself from relationships where there is an absence of respect.
Each year brings its own challenges, rewards and lessons. I hope that you will take a moment and assess your year and make adjustments to your life. One lesson has the power to lift your life to new heights and unlock new possibilities. Reflection is the key to rising to the next level.