Subject: 
        Fax of Life
  Date: 
        Thu, 24 Oct 1996 17:55:32 -0700
  From: 
        fol@saddleback.com
    To: 
        abet@grepa.com



        THE FAX OF LIFE
A Weekly Service To The Business Community From Saddleback Church

BREAKING OUT OF A RUT
By Rick Warren

        It's easy to get stuck in a rut at work... same place... same thing...same responsibility.  But settling into a rut is dangerous.  As Will Rogers used to say, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!"

        What does it take to get you moving?  There are 3 common motivators:

PAIN - motivates us to change.  Often it's not "seeing the light"  that gets us going, but "feeling the heat."  You delay the dentist appointment until the pain is unbearable.

PRESSURE - when the doctor says "Lose 50 pounds or die," or  the boss says "Improve performance or be fired."  The problem with pressure as a motivator is that it doesn't last.  When the pressure subsides, so does your motivation.  There is a better motivator.

PERSPECTIVE - when you see the big picture, or when you're inspired by a challenging vision or purpose.  You realize that you are wasting your potential.

The Bible says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done."  (Ecclesiastes 11:4 Living Bible)

        HERE ARE FOUR STEPS FOR BREAKING OUT OF A RUT:

                1. ASSUME responsibility for your own life.  Refuse to be either an
                    Excuser (rationalize failure) or an Accuser (blame others).  Instead,
                    be a CHOOSER and choose to break out of the rut you're in.

                2. BELIEVE you can change!   Stop saying "I can't" and start saying "I can."

                3. CLARIFY what you really want.  Write down specifically how you'd like
                     to change.

                4. DON'T WAIT for ideal circumstances.  Stop saying "When things
                     settle down.."  Do it now!  "One of these days" is really NONE
                     of these days.

        PRAY THIS: "God help me this week to do something differently this week and to do it            better. Give me your strength to change."

Until next week...
FOL #6