The Purposeful ParentSample

The How – The Right Tools

When we talk about how something gets done, we usually talk about the tools that people use. There are tools that we can use to pursue our purpose. Accountability, discipline, and ambition are tools that we can use to pursue our purpose. 

Accountability 

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." 

- Proverbs 27:17 ESV

"People don't do what we expect; they do what we inspect." – Pastor Peggy Heald

When it comes to pursuing the things that God has created us to do, we need accountability. We all need people in our lives to hold us accountable for the changes that we want to make. This tool is severely underutilized. Accountability motivates us to do more than we think we can do. 

The primary key to remember is that accountability does not require perfection. Life is a process. When we try to hide our mistakes, we are running away from holding ourselves accountable. If we can't keep ourselves accountable, nobody else will be able to do so. It also provides friendship, motivation, and many other things that will help us in life. Don't run away from accountability; lean into it. 

Discipline

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

- Hebrews 12:11 ESV

 "Discipline is the bridge between goals and success." – Jim Rohn

Why do we think that everyone else except us needs discipline? We all need it. We know that our children need discipline, but we want to give ourselves a pass for some reason. To quote a Geico commercial, "That is not how this works; that is not how ANY of this works."

The truth is that discipline provides many benefits. It encourages focus, provides motivation, and it really helps keep stress away. Now just because discipline provides benefits doesn't mean that it's comfortable. It requires sacrifice, but it is worth it in the end. 

Ambition

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

- Philippians 2:4 ESV

"A dream without ambition is like a car without gas … you're not going anywhere." – Sean Hampton

Sometimes in the process of pursuing your purpose, ambition will be the only thing that drives you. Ambition is described as a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work. 

You will need determination, hard work, and to live outside your comfort zone to accomplish what you were born to do. Just because you have a gift from God doesn't mean that everything comes easily. Yes, it may come naturally to you, but you will have to use determination and hard work to grow in it. Your comfort zone will not produce what you need. Growth ALWAYS happens outside your comfort zone.