Your life is the sum of each of your days. Each and every day, you decide how to spend much of your time, and you select the thoughts and attitudes you will encourage.
How will you live today?
Plan A: Too early this morning, the alarm went off, and I crawled grudgingly out of bed. I thought about all the things that had gone wrong lately, and wondered why the world seemed set on making my life miserable. This was going to be a crummy day.
Plan B: I realized as I woke up today that I was being given the chance to enjoy life for one more day. I talked to the Creator of the Universe, and thanked him for the many blessings I had been given. This had the start of a really great day.
Surrender
Plan A: Oh well, I’ll just tough it out. Since everything seems stacked against me, I’ll do whatever I want to do. Heck, I deserve to have things my way, so why worry about anything else?
Plan B: I’m glad I don’t have to do this life-thing alone. I’ve given up trying to manage everything on my own, and it’s a release to let things go and enjoy life along the way.
Transformation
Plan A: I know I have some bad habits, but they make me feel good for a little while, so I’m going to keep doing them. If I make some mistakes, who cares? I don’t owe anything to anybody.
Plan B: Today, I’ll work on some things I need to improve upon. I’ll ask God to forgive me for the mistakes I’ve made and help me get better. I won’t be perfect, no one is, but I’ll do my best.
Empathy
Plan A: I’ve harmed some people recently, but I don’t feel like doing anything about it. It’s no big deal, and I don’t like getting into negative situations, so I’ll just forget about it.
Plan B: Today, I will reach out to a couple of people I’ve hurt recently. I’ll find a way to apologize to them and try to work it out.
Progress
Plan A: I’ve got lots of stuff to do, and some of it seems urgent. There’s no time to waste on anything like a “quiet time.”
Plan B: I’ll find time to talk to God this morning, think about what’s really important, and set my priorities for the day.
Service
Plan A: There are some people I need to avoid for sure today. They seem to have something going on in their lives, and I don’t feel like getting bogged down in their problems.
Plan B: I’m going to talk to a couple of people I know who seem to be having a tough time lately. It seems like they need someone to talk to, and maybe I can be there for them.
How Will You Live Today?
Plan A: I feel like I’ve been busy doing stuff all day, but I’m not sure I was focused on the right things.
Today was tough, and I don’t feel like I did anything that really mattered. I doubt tomorrow will be any better.
Plan B: Today, I took time to focus on the important things, and I appreciated special moments and people that mean a lot to me. It turns out that taking small steps helps me improve my entire life.
Today was a good day. It wasn’t perfect, but that’s okay, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. Life is good.
If you are not finding the peace, joy, and purpose you would like to have in your life, maybe it’s time for you to find your “Plan B.” How will you live your life, starting today?
Question: When you read these two approaches for how to live, which one best fits you?
Action: This year, make a “New Day’s Resolution.” Pick two or three adjustments in your daily priorities and attitudes and commit to them, for one day at a time.
Photo by the Italian voice 
Photo by Josta Photo Photo by h.koppdelaney Photo by DafneCholet
