The Role of Love –
Love plays a key role in being mentally prepared for success. You must love what you are doing. You must love others. And you must love yourself. Duh! But let’s really take a closer look at what I just said. There’s a lot more to it than you might think.
Love of the Task
The passion for the task comes from several places. First, it comes from a desire to please God.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
Second, it comes from God.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalms 37:4
When you are happy doing the will of the Father, He will give you those desires.
Think about it this way. If you want to do what He wants you to do, He is happy to give you what you want in order for you to be able to do it.
A little Jean theology. God created you with a plan in mind. Do you really think that you will be happy doing something else? Now, you might think you could be happy with something at the moment, but if that is not God’s will for you, do you really think after you have it that you will really be as happy as you thought? I doubt it.
When you figure out what it is that God wants you to do, chase it with a passion! Embrace it! Prepare for success mentally by knowing – really believing – that God has that for you.
Love for Others
When some folks become successful, they also lose touch with what reality is for the average person. They may look down on folks – “the little people” – or rather the less fortunate of this world with contempt or lack of understanding and compassion.
Prepare mentally for success by realizing that should your success bring you a measure of wealth or fame that you need to remember people who have helped you along the way. You need to realize that many folks struggle mentally, spiritually, and physically. Remember to help folks.
Love for Yourself
Prepare mentally for success by learning to love yourself. Examine all the things you believe about yourself. If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, accept it. Forgive yourself for your past mistakes, and love yourself enough to believe in yourself. Simply have confidence in yourself.
Understand that God has a plan for your life. He designed you uniquely to fill it.
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Like Jeremiah, God’s plan for you started a long time before you were born.
LIFE APPLICATION
The challenge is to really love God, love the task, love others, and love yourself. Love is a key ingredient in mentally preparing for success. Without it, you risk doing something you don’t like for all the wrong reasons. If you will apply love as you go, you are more likely to achieve what you are aiming at, and you won’t find success a lonely place.
Your Big Challenge
Your big challenge is to remember that peace, faith and love play a role in being mentally prepared for success. Being at peace with your past, present, and future will keep you focused on the task at hand. Remember that everyone has a past. We all make mistakes. Look to God to direct your steps. Celebrate the journey to motivate you and your team. Seek direction from God, and have peace that He has the future covered. Be honest with yourself about any concerns you have about succeeding. Know that not trying is a form of failure. Be more concerned with what God thinks than what others think. Be passionate about the tasks at hand, and apply love wherever you can!