Stress is a choice. You cannot always control what happens to you or around you but your response is the one thing you can control. You can choose to be stressed or you can choose a different response.

Leadership is a choice. Stop worrying about when those other people on your team are going to step up and quit whining about those ahead of you who are supposed to be the ones out in front. Leadership isn’t a position. Leadership isn’t power or control. Leadership is choosing to do the right things in order to help others achieve. You can choose to wait for someone else or you can choose to lead right now wherever you are.

Development is a choice. “I don’t have time to read.” Wrong. You choose to do other things with your time than read. “I can’t afford that conference.” False. You choose to spend you money on other things. Each day you have an opportunity to get better at whatever it is that you do. You can read a book, access a blog, call someone, attend a conference, download a podcast, etc, etc, etc. You can choose to remain the way you are right now or you can choose to develop yourself in order to achieve greater results.

Parenting is a choice. When I became a dad the greatest bit of advice I received was when a friend told me, “Parent is a verb.” That has stuck with me every single day. You can choose to not engage with your family or you can choose to parent.

Discipleship is a choice. When Jesus called us to follow him he called us to be his disciples. A disciple is someone who seeks to pattern their life after their teacher- their rabbi. 1John 2:6 says, “Whoever flames to follow him must live as Jesus lived.” Following Jesus means choosing to live like he lived. It means choosing the way of Jesus over my way. Disciples grow and mature and are transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. They do not remain the same as they were when they were called. You can choose your way of living or you can choose The Way of Life.

Serving is a choice. Jesus made a conscious decision to serve. “For the Son of Man came to serve not be served.” Serving others is a choice. You can choose to use others for what they can do for you or you can choose to be like the King of the Universe and serve others.

Life is a series of choices. What will you choose today?