That tends to be the best direction to focus our thoughts and actions, wouldn’t you agree? Unlike our vehicles and TV’s, our lives don’t have a reverse or rewind function.

Yesterday might be full of monumental successes or epic failures.  Chances are, there’s plenty of both. Today we use those two realities as valuable memories and experiences to learn from and help us grow.

We consult our past so that we’re prepared for what’s happening now and what arises in the future. But we don’t go back. Not just because we shouldn’t, but because we can’t.

Welcome to a new day… Forward.

What are some of the big goals you’re trying to accomplish right now? How serious have you been about achieving them?

Every time I sit down to write one of these columns, I hope that I come up with something that inspires and challenges the people who read them.

But “hoping” to achieve this goal doesn’t sound very serious or committed, does it? Hoping sounds more like “trying” than actually “doing”.

So, what if you replaced the verb “hope” with “promise” from now on? Do you think you’d be more dedicated to reaching your goals? How would things change at home and at work if you stopped hoping to do things and started promising to do them?

Maybe everything would change. Maybe nothing would. But odds are, you would change.

Going forward, you would probably be more careful about what you say yes to. You’d be more intentional about how you invest your time and energy. Because you’d honor the promises you make, you’ll hold yourself to a higher standard. In the end you’ll become more focused, more accountable, and more productive. I promise.