BELIEF Without ACTION is WORTHLESS!

"ACTION! - Faith Without Works is Dead! - Belief Without ACTION is Worthless!"

 The Bible states, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20). The basic discussion behind this verse is the idea that, you can say anything you want but, without SHOWING what you believe by your ACTIONS, your words mean nothing.

Let's talk about that angle first. You can SAY that you love someone but, friend, you can SAY anything you want, but it's what you DO that REALLY shows if you love that person or not. You can SAY that you CARE about someone but, again, it's what you DO that truly shows what you really feel. 

Someone can say the words, "I'm sorry", and say them again and again and again but, if they never change their actions (which would indicate remorse and the desire to do things differently) then, quite honestly, their words are empty and hollow. They mean nothing. 

For years I have said the following: "You live what you believe." 

The same is true when it comes to what you SAY about what you want to achieve in and for your life. Talk is great! Getting "fired up" by listening to a powerful speaker is great but, if that's all that ever comes from it then, honestly, what has it helped you accomplish?

Have you ever grown tired of listening to someone continuously talk about what they are GOING to do? Maybe you have grown tired to the point that you finally said something like, "When are you going to stop TALKING and start DOING?" 

How about yourself? Are you holding yourself to that same standard? Do you need to ask YOURSELF when you are going to stop TALKING and start DOING? 

Several years back, while working with one of the churches that I did as a minister, I developed a program that I called "Dreamers and Doers". The idea behind it was, simply, to try to get a group of people to go beyond TALKING about things that needed to be done or that "we" wanted to happen and to start DOING things to actually make those things HAPPEN!

The difference between DREAMING and DOING is...are you ready for it?...ACTION! 

Many people give Napoleon Hill a "bad rap" by saying that he believed that all you had to do was believe something and it would take place. People often misquote/misapply the his idea that what the mind believes, one can achieve. However, if one would take the time to actually read his book, "Think and Grow Rich", they will clearly see that Mr. Hill points out that ACTION is an absolute necessity in this process. ACTION! 

Hey, don't ever forget that, even if you "take two steps forward and one step back", you are still making progress. So, here's an easy equation to remember: BELIEF + ACTION = PROGRESS.

Once again, if you haven't done so yet, you need to listen to the podcast on today's topic. Just click one of the links at the bottom of this article to do so. There is SO MUCH MORE information and additional thoughts that I share with you there that is not found in this article. 

If you listen by going to iTunes, please take a moment and leave a review - I thank you in advance! Also, be sure to stop by the FYU fan page on Facebook and let me know that you left that review AND to just say "hello" and let me know that you are benefiting from Future You University. 

As always, THANKS for joining me today and, please, share this with as many as possible and always be sure to keep moving forward, closer to your dream!

And, until next time, whatever you do,  be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Your FEET Will Follow...

That is some kind of UGLY picture there, isn't it? :)

Sorry. I apologize for that. Once you catch your breath, just use  your hand to cover the picture and continue reading.

I was watching a video clip of Dani Johnson (DaniJohnson.com) the other day and she mentioned a phrase that she had heard some time in the past. "Your feet will follow your mouth" was the phrase and it has stuck with her for years.

And, it's TRUE!

You speak the direction of your life and your daily actions. You may or may not quite understand that, friend, but just know that your words ARE that powerful.

WHAT you speak and HOW you speak determines your direction. Are you kind? Considerate? Encouraging? Affirming?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Put your money where your mouth is."?

There is more truth behind that phrase than you may realize!

What - and how - you speak may very well bring extra MONEY into your life and, just as easily, it may actually take money AWAY from your life!

I'm not talking about being a "suck-up" or "brown-noser".

I'm talking about being genuine (you can't fake that stuff for long!) and actually caring about people. The REAL you cannot help but come out for others to witness...good OR bad.

Your words - and use of them - may lead you to promotions and/or new job opportunities. They may also keep you from these things and cost you money that you didn't even know about.

Isn't there enough strife in the world? Isn't there enough strife just around YOU and YOUR world? The same is true about stress, unkind words, and all other kinds of negativity.

Don't make this a seasonal thing, make it a way of life...YOUR life.

Because, after all, your feet will follow your mouth!

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes

Podcast RSS feed   4 "no cost or low cost" start ups!
 

The Need to Tame the Tongue

"We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.  And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire." (James 3: 3 - 5; NLT)

 

Have YOU ever lost control of YOUR tongue? I could be wrong but I think I can answer that question for you with a "Yes". Am I right?

 

Most all of us - if NOT all of us - have said things that, almost immediately, we wish we could take back. And, at other times, it may take a few days or even weeks before that regret sets in. But, the fact is, once said, words cannot be "unsaid".

 

I heard the following story several years ago and it points out just how hard it is to try to recapture words once they are spoken. It seems that a man, in a  moment of frustration, said some negative and even untrue things about a person who had been a friend. This man was so angry and frustrated that he told three or four other people. After about a day, he began to regret what he had said and decided to visit the village wise man to seek advice on what he should do. The wise man instructed the fellow to go to each door of those he told the falsehood to, knock on the door and ask who all they shared what he had said. The wise man instruced the gentleman to do this at all three or four people's homes that he had told and then he was to place a feather on the doorstep of each of those people along with the steps of those with whom the story had been shared. At each of these houses he was to also ask if they had shared the story with others and, do the same thing at each of those houses. He soon found that he had placed feathers on the doorsteps of houses all over the town.

As instructed, he returned to visit the wise man the very next day to find out what else he needed to do to try to make this mistake right. His heart fell as the wise man instruced him to now go back and collect all of the feathers that had been placed on the doorsteps. The man expressed his despair since this would be an impossible task due to light winds taking place overnight.

"So it is with your words once spoken." explained the wise man. "They spread beyond your ability to ever recapture what has been said."

 

We can use all kinds of excuses by saying things like, "I just speak before I think!" which, in reality, cannot be true. You cannot speak it unless you think it first.

 

The problem is CONTROL.

 

The way to control your speech is to control your thoughts. And, the way to control your thoughts is to constantly absorb as much positive information as possible. 

You control your thoughts which, in turn, can help control your words.

Yeah, I know...easier said than done. Still yet, the goal is to THINK before it's "said and done".

Until next time...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University    "Like" FYU on Facebook!    Podcast on iTunes

Podcast RSS feed    4 "no cost or low cost" start ups!
 

Say More by Saying LESS

 

Take a moment and really take in the graphic that I came up with the other day that you see above.

 

Go ahead...take a look.

What kind of budget would you have to set up for yourself based on how many words you say during the course of a day? That's kind of crazy to think about, isn't it?

I'm not going to do it but, if you want to have some fun with this idea, count the number of words that I used in this blog article.

The point is this: IF you had to pay $1 for EVERY word that you say....would it change the way that you speak? Would it change how MUCH you say? Would it change WHAT you say?

Sure it would.

"Say MORE by saying LESS" might be a good idea to try to live by...think about it.

There is too much "noise pollution" in the world today and much of it comes from people talking way too much. Don't get "worked up" on this until you hear what I'm actually saying, o.k.?

I'm not talking about friends that haven't seen each other for a long time or family that hasn't seen each other in a long time. I'm not talking about family and close friends at all. The day may come when we WISHED we had just one more conversation with that family member or friend.

I AM talking about those that seem to have the need to tell you everything that they have to say about anything AND everything. Do you know someone like that? People that "hog" the conversation and, usually, don't end up sounding as intelligent as they would like.

If they - and us - had to pay $1 for EVERY word that we said during the course of a day, what would change?

Would we be more patient? Would we be more careful? Would we take the time to THINK a little longer BEFORE we speak?

Think about it this way...if we actually spoke less the first time, we'd have to spend less time - and use less words - having to explain or apologize later.



"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Until next time, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

  *MJ Spillman Travel on Facebook*    *TRAVEL FOR LESS and ENJOY LIFE MORE!*

First of FOUR AGREEMENTS

Speak With Integrity - Say Only What You Mean

Avoid Using the Word to Speak Against Yourself or to Gossip About Others

Use the Power of Your Word in the Direction of Truth and Love

 

* * * * * *

 

An old High School friend of mine recently posted "The Four Agreements" on her Facebook page and I instantly knew that I wanted to use it for my blog and podcast as soon as I could.

 

Before I go any further let me go ahead and share with you the rest of the list so that you can know what we will be talking about over the next few days:



     2. Don't Take Anything Personally

     3. Don't Make Assumptions

     4. Always Do Your Best

 

Would you already agree with me that following these "Four Agreements" can and will make a major impact on you and those around you? Can you see how putting these into practice on a daily basis will improve and heal relationships and that families can be healed and changed and that, yes, even whole communities could be nudged for such change as well?

 

Yes, our world has had liars in it since the beginning. The old devil himself showed himself to be a liar and is later described as "the father" of all lies (John 8:44).

 

Even though that is true I would still say that this (lying) is something that has become more prevelant today than in the past and that the idea of taking someone at their word - their TRUE word - is pretty much a thing of the past.

 

What is your take on that?

 

Lies HURT people and DESTROY relationships! Yet, it seems that, for many, it is a way of life when, in reality, it is nothing but a way of death (death to any and all relationships sooner or later).

 

BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD!

 

Whoever came up with the oft-quoted saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me!" may have had good intentions but, friend, we all know that this is absolutely UNTRUE. I'm not sure that the originator of that phrase meant to lie, but that is exactly what it is.

 

We must be so careful with how we use our words

 

Words can heal as well as destroy. They can build up or they can tear down. They can put a smile on another's face or they can cause one to break down in tears. Both for the good and the bad, words can leave an impact that can last years and years.

 

You can look at the specifics in the graphic and right underneath the graphic in case you can't make out the words and consider each point for yourself.

 

Bottom line: All of this mentioned simply causes each of us to THINK before - BEFORE - we speak! If your hurtful words were bullets, would you be a little more careful?

 

I'd hope so. Just remember that hurtful words definitely can leave invisible scars that can last a lifetime.

 

Thank you for your time and for sharing this article with anyone and everyone that you think would benefit from it's content. I appreciate that, friend.

 

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike


Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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This Becomes Your DESTINY

Before I start in on my thoughts for today's article, let me take a moment and encourage you to be sure to also listen to the podcast! There are two ways to access it and both links are located at the bottom of this article. I tell people that listen to the podcast to be sure to also read the blog and now I'm telling you to be sure to listen to the podcast.
 

Why? Because they are done at two different times and there is not a script. That means that you will get additional material besides what you find here.
 

Too, let me just say that when you read this blog you can't "hear" the passion in my voice and the inflection found there as well. So, be sure to read AND listen, o.k.?
 

Oh, and one more thing - SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!

 

Now on to the show (as they say).

 

Today I'm going to discuss the last two "verses" of this graphic since we have come to the end of the week. Again, let me emphasize that, what you have before you, is a PATH, a ROAD MAP to your destiny!

 

Your destiny is not something that has been predetermined even if you or others think that it has been done. NO!

 

Do NOT settle for that way of thinking or do NOT listen to anyone that would tell you such garbage! YOU have control over the direction of your destiny and - negative or positive - it is laid out for you in the graphic above.

 

Your thoughts, words, actions, habits and your character....THIS becomes your destiny!

 

Yes, you can change your habits from bad to good by simply going back to taking control over your thoughts. Remember? Your thoughts become words, your words become actions and your actions become habits!

 

These habits become your character - WHO YOU ARE!

 

We live in a world (at least in my opinion) that is short on solid and trustworthy character. It's a shame but I see it pretty much every day.

 

We live in a world where lying is accepted and laughed at as if it really doesn't matter. We live in a world where our young people are not being taught how to be mannerly, respectful and honorable and it's sad to see.

 

When you live in such a way as to direct your path to your destiny, you provide a way - a road map - for your children and your grandchildren that can be passed down from one generation to another.

 

You may think that I have too easily interchanged the ideas of destiny with that of your legacy or dynasty. Don't let that distract you but think of this: Creating and directing your DESTINY will, indeed become your legacy and your dynasty. That, my friend, is a fact!

 

I was reading James Allen's "As a Man Thinketh" last night and there was part of one sentence that jumped out at me due to what we have been discussing the past few days. Here it is: "Thought and character are one..."

 

Your habits (which derive from your thoughts) become your CHARACTER and, yes, your character becomes your DESTINY!

 

Wow, does that impress you as it does me?

 

No more "floating around" with no control when it comes to your destiny. YOU set the sail, my friend, YOU plot the course and YOU blaze the trail.

 

It is YOUR destiny and YOU are in control.

 

And, never forget, that it begins with what you think.

 

Feed your mind and build a destiny that you can be proud of and one that you know will withstand the test of time long after you are gone.

 

And, as you go about building this powerful and positive destiny, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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Watch Your ACTIONS

 

Step 3: Watch Your Actions

 



Thoughts to words, words to actions and actions to...

HABITS.

There are both kinds of habits - good and bad. Where do they come from? How do we develop them?

Follow the progression in the graphic above. Short trip - our habits come from our thoughts! Yes, follow it on through just as in the first sentence of this article and you may find yourself wincing just a bit...OUCH!

Who knew, right? I mean, how many of us really considered how our THOUGHTS made such a difference? Let's jump a little ahead here and understand that our THOUGHTS lead to our DESTINY and that should really give us all a bit of a jolt.

Here's the thing to think about: You WILL have a destiny even if you do nothing!

That's right. Do nothing and you will have a destiny of nothing. Get by doing as little as possible and shirk as much responsibility as possible and you will have a destiny of little.

Pay attention to your thoughts for they WILL lead to your actions - good or bad, positive or negative. Take control and add as much positive input to your mindset as you possibly can.

I had someone ask me just yesterday about this idea of replacing so many negative thoughts with positive thoughts. "How do I do that?" was basically what was asked. The answer? READ AND LISTEN TO AS MUCH POSITIVE "STUFF" AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!

Remember "remove and replace"?

Remove the negative and replace it with the positive.

Do you want to leave a powerful and positive destiny to be passed down for generations? It all begins with your thoughts that turn into words and then turn into actions which become your habits!

Destiny. I love this part of the definition I found for this word: "the power or agency that determines the course of events"

The "power or agency" that will actually determine your course of events begins with your thoughts which, in the long run, becomes your destiny.

It is not set. It is not something that you cannot control or even change. If you don't like the destiny that you are forming now - CHANGE THE PATH!

Yeah, think about it for a moment before asking how you do that. Change your thoughts, your words, your actions and  CHANGE YOUR HABITS.

It IS possible and it IS necessary if your habits are not ones that you wish to have.

"As long as there is breath there is hope." That points out that you can begin that process TODAY.

Get after it, friend and, as you do so be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

Watch Your WORDS!

Part 2: Watch Your WORDS!

 

 

Today we continue our discussion of the progression to our DESTINY - pretty powerful to consider, wouldn't you agree?

 

"How do I create a destiny? How do I leave behind a great destiny?"

 

Both of these questions are answered the same way. IT BEGINS WITH YOUR THOUGHTS!

 

Again, follow the progression that you find in the graphic above and you will clearly see the "path to your destiny" right before your very eyes! Easier said than done? ABSOLUTELY!

 

C'mon, what did you think? A DESTINY is not something that is done haphazardly or without thought and planned actions. No friend, too many people have thought that and tried that only to fail and leave a destiny of failure and despair.

 

A powerful, positive and great DESTINY is something that is done on PURPOSE!

 

Go back and read that last sentence again. It was pretty good if I do say so myself! You WILL leave "a" destiny - one way or the other. However, what kind of destiny you leave is totally up to you and your PLANNED or UNPLANNED approach.

 

For those who are just not "getting it", what you see in the graphic above is a PLAN - a road map - to a positive and powerful destiny! It's right there in front of you as I have already pointed out.

 

Your THOUGHTS become WORDS and your WORDS become ACTIONS.

 

Don't believe it? Just take a look around you and observe. Now, since you likely wouldn't believe it if someone told you that you spoke and active in a negative way, then take a look at others around you. See those that talk and act negatively? If you think and speak that way then, friend, you also ACT just like them!

 

Have you ever heard that phrase, "You are what you eat" ?

 

It's true here as well. You are what you consume mentally. You ARE what you allow into your mind and mindset - positive or negative. And, if you allow BOTH in then, guess which one will come out on top? Whichever you allow in most. That's right!

 

Last night while in a different room than where the television was, I heard a game show host "interviewing" one of the contestants at the start of the show. I listened with interest as this lady responded to questions about her work, her husband and her family with such positive words! She CHOSE carefully the words that she used as she talked about the company that she worked for being "the best (of this type) company in the whole world". She continued by referring to her husband as "the best husband that a woman could ask for" and her kids as "each of them are awesome and amazing young people". Now, these aren't exact quotes but they are very close to what she said.

 

Let me ask you a question. How do you think this lady performed at her workplace? How do you think she generally interacted with her husband and her children?

 

Without knowing anything about her (other than what I heard her speak) I would suggest that she was a GREAT and VALUED employee and one that had a very special relationship with her husband as well as her children.

 

Her THOUGHTS became her WORDS and her WORDS became her ACTIONS!

 

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7). And yes, this verse is the premise on which James Allen wrote his famous book, "As a Man Thinketh".

 

Want to change your behavior? Change your words.

 

Want to change your words? Change your thoughts.

 

The path to your great and powerful DESTINY awaits!

 

And, as you move along this great path, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 



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Watch Your THOUGHTS



Step 1: WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS

 

Look at the graphic and notice the progression. This week I will be taking a look at EACH of these steps in this progression.

 

Why?

 

Because if we don't want this progression to take place in a negative way and we DO want it to take place in a POSITIVE way then we may want to look at each step closely.

 

Part 1: Watch your THOUGHTS, they become WORDS!

 

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, "Wow, I wished I hadn't said that!"? Guess what? If you don't want to SAY it then don't THINK it!

 

As much as we want to claim differently, it is a fact that what is said is at first THOUGHT. Your brain simply cannot act on it's on when it comes to talking. You have to THINK it in order to SPEAK it. Sorry, you can't get off that easy by saying, "I spoke before I thought!". Uh, no.

 

This simply speaks to the importance of taking the time to think a little longer BEFORE you speak!

 

This is also another reason why it is so important to add to your "library of positive thoughts" of your mind.

 

No matter how hard you try, if you keep thinking it, "it" will come out of your mouth!

 

Like everything else, it is YOUR choice. It is a choice as far as to what you think and what you say.

 

If you are not sure that this is important, look again at the graphic above and realize that THIS IS THE START OF THE PATH TO YOUR DESTINY.

 

You can speak death (negative) or life (positive) into existence beginning with your thoughts that will turn into your words.

 

Death or life. Hmmmmm....which would you CHOOSE?

 

Kind of important, would you agree?

 

Be careful what you think. Your thoughts become your words. Choose carefully, friend.

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

 

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

 



Words Live on Forever

 

“Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.”
Og Mandino
1923-1996, Author

 

WOW! Powerful words that still live on today even though many years have passed by since the death of Mr. Og Mandino.

 

Words that still have an impact on anyone and everyone that reads (or perhaps hears if this was said in a recorded speech that he made at some point) them and shares them.  Hey, not only am I sharing them here, I also posted this quote on my Facebook page. Why? Because I think they are powerful and important for each of us to consider and implement in our lives.

 

Words live on forever. That, my friend, is a fact. Even the unwritten word lives on forever in the minds of those who heard them whether kind or unkind, true or untrue, sweet or sour.

 

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You see, you leave a legacy even with the words that you speak. I hope, like me, that it causes you to stop and choose a little more carefully the words that you speak and/or write because, indeed, they will live on forever.

 

What kind of legacy will YOUR words leave behind? Here’s a hint: the same legacy that they are leaving behind even today.

 

But the good news is that you CAN change what happens from this point on regardless of what legacy has been left up to this time. Sure, it will be an uphill battle but don’t you want to leave a POSITIVE legacy? Don’t you want to leave words behind that ENCOURAGE and LIFT UP those that hear/read them now and for years to come?

 

Sure you do.

 

Start now, right now and make it your mission to leave a powerful legacy that will be a blessing to those for years to come. You CAN do it!

 

“Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)”

 

Mike

This entry was posted in Empower Network