Navigating Starting Over Again… “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”

Who could forget Clint Eastwood’s 1966 spaghetti western film, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”? The sound track still makes me look for my six-shooter! Well, when you try to start over again, you’re going to run into a couple of pretty unsavory characters sort of like Clint did…a real “Ugly” one and a real “Bad” one!

1. Here’s the Real “Ugly” One: Some people won’t let you start over! They just can’t seem to forget all the things you did wrong…especially if they got hurt from it. They either shun you or discredit the progress you’re trying to make. So now the ball is in your court. You have to decide if you’re going to let someone else’s opinion of you stop you from starting over again.

2. And here’s the Real “Bad” One: It’s going to take a lot of hard work! Like I mentioned last week, you have to “behave” yourself into a New Start. Here are some ways to do it:

a. It Begins with a Made-up-Mind. This is a commitment between you and yourself to reach a personal goal. It’s an internal resolve and determination that will not allow you to quit until you’ve achieved what you’ve purposed in your heart. You’ll never finish without this.

b. It Takes Forgiveness. Forgiveness is a miracle…for YOU! It releases you from a prison of anger and revenge. And by the way…did I mention that you have to forgive yourself too? If God has forgiven you, so can you. You’re not better than God…are you?

c. It Takes Constant Follow Up. Things deteriorate without constant maintenance. So it is with your New Start. If you don’t work on it Daily, it will only last about a week….or less!

d. It Takes a Friend who’s willing to walk with you through your transition.This is called accountability and encouragement. These kinds of friends will never forsake you.

3. Now, here’s the Real “Good” One: Regardless of the odds against you, God can give you a New Start. Why? Because He wants you to have a clean slate even MORE than you do! God is the Master at reversing evil. He’s the only One who can take failures like…Noah (a drunk), Moses (a murderer), Rahab (a prostitute), David (an adulterer), Peter (a coward) and Saul of Tarsus (a religious terrorist)…and turn them into heroes of the Christian faith!

Now that’s Real Good News! And that, my friend, is how you can begin 2010 with a Clean Slate.

<< Back