Five Life and Leadership Lessons Where I Still Mess Up

Sometimes I just don’t get it.

This past year, I wrote a book that made it to number one among all Christian books. I have a blog with four to five million views a year (Yep. It really does sound like I’m boasting).

So I have been blessed to have a number of readers vote with their eyes to take in the material I write. Material on the church. Material on life. Material on leadership.

But I still don’t get it sometimes.

Sometimes I say implicitly, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Yes, I can be a lousy example for my own writings. I can hide behind my keyboard and act like some kind of expert spouting truisms and lessons. But I still don’t get it in several areas of life and leadership.

There are five areas where I consistently don’t get it. I mess up time and time again. Here are my top five (or should they be a bottom five?).

The so-called big problem of today will not be around in a short while. Though I know better, I sometimes respond to challenging issues of today like it’s the end of the world. Weeks later, I will wonder why I got so upset at the time.
Don’t take criticisms personally. Yeah. Right. Sometimes I think my skin is so thin it’s translucent. I have written numerous articles on dealing with criticisms. Sometimes when I am writing on such topics, it seems like an out-of-body experience. I know I talk it a lot better than I walk it.
Trust God in all things. I certainly believe the statement biblically and theologically. I just don’t demonstrate faith to live it more times than I would like to say.
Life is short; enjoy the moment. I am goal-oriented. Let me restate that. I am obsessively goal-oriented. Too often I miss out on the small and daily joys that God has given me. I don’t focus sufficiently on this day because I’m looking to accomplish something in the future.
An adventure in faith begins when we get out of our comfort zones. Okay, I’ll give myself a little credit here. I have stepped out in faith a few times in my life. My point is that I don’t do so enough. I can get comfortable with my routines and earthly pleasures. Too comfortable.

So . . . I hope I don’t discourage readers from sticking with me because of my inconsistencies. I’m 58 years old, and I still have a lot of growing up to do. Thanks for bearing with me.

How about you? Are there key leadership and life lessons where you aren’t as consistent as you should be? Maybe I’m not alone.

photo credit: hans.gerwitz via photopin cc