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When I was in my late 20’s I made a major, life-changing decision. At the time, I was one of those Christians who looked good on the outside but was wilting on the inside. I lived a moral life, occasionally read my Bible, went to church, and was generally a nice person. But when I got home from work (I was a Chaplain and a coach at the time), I was ready to check out. Most every night I would spend my evenings flipping channels.

After a while, I grew tired of feeling like I was wasting my life. I knew that the reason that I was not growing was because I had no positive input in my life. At the time, I could not remember the last book of any sort I had read. I told myself that I was just not a reader. Finally, I dropped the excuses and picked up a book. I set a very ambitious goal (for me) that year of reading 10 books. Ever since that year, reading is core to my goals and my growth. The goals grew and the compounding impact of that change snowballed. Books I read in 1987, 1994 and many other years still ring in my ears today. Many of those books are now part of what I share in the Mentoring ministry. I am a different person because of that one change. 

Certain changes that we make in our lives, both good ones and bad ones, have a compounding impact for years to come. Potent growth comes by choosing those repetitive practices that propel us toward the person we want to become. Just like with money, compounding works!

Choosing what you change is the key and is very individual. Use the following list as a prompt for the kind of changes you might consider. 

What one change could you make, that if compounded for 30 years, would change your life? 

o Consider tithing now (giving 10% of your money away). What might
this do to affect your perspective on money and change it into a
source of joy in your life?
o Consider reading 10 books or more a year.
o Consider meeting with a close trusted friend weekly to share deeply
about your life.
o Consider building a regimen of exercise into your weekly routine.
o Consider practicing the Sabbath as a way of creating space for
  relationship with those closest to you.
o Consider getting up 30 minutes to an hour earlier to spend time with
God and to grow your soul.
o Consider starting a journal.
o Consider praying before bed and thanking God for 3 things that
happened that day.

Imagine the compounding impact in 30 years of these practices!
These are just a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Be creative! I know of one man who has written a love note to his wife every day for over 40 years. Imagine the compound interest that practice has created!

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