Gaining Structure and Exuding Excellence

People who most enjoy life and flourish as human beings have structure to every aspect of their lives:

• Finances
• Time
• Health (mental, emotional, relational, spiritual)
• Fitness and Diet
• Relationships
• Home and workplace organization
• Work and/or schooling

People whose lives exhibit excellence:

• Have accountability, mentors, and good company
• Grow in wisdom
• Set goals and take steps daily to reach them
• Are in right standing with others to the best of their ability
• Deal with their problems through the right means
• Remain accountable
• Admit fault and are open to receiving constructive criticism
• Realize the impact of their choices through careful consideration of the outcome (not by the immediate pleasure or relief it will bring)
• Willing to seek counsel
• Have a keen awareness of their need for people who positively pour into their lives
• Keep short accounts with people
• Plan ahead
• Pursue growth
• Use their talents and resources in a way that helps those in need (within proper boundaries and with discernment)
• Treat others respectfully
• Demonstrate humility, understanding, and compassion in their dealings with others

People whose lives are falling apart typically:

• Display an unwillingness to take responsibility for their lives
• Squander their time and money on pursuits or with people who benefit them not or do so only short-term
• Do not set goals or are flippant in taking steps to achieve them
• Careless with their health and sex life
• Cannot be confronted on their issues
• Have a negative mindset
• Envy or put down others instead of putting in the time and making the effort to work on themselves
• Gossip and have little regard for the reputation or feelings of others
• Put off dealing with problems until it is too late
• Do not allow anyone to get close to them or refuse to seek counsel
• Feel the need to lie and exaggerate so both they and their lives *appear* better than they actually are (thus being fake and not letting people get to know the real them)
• Are prideful and stubborn