Do you ever feel that you were destined to live the adventurous life and win battles?
To have a life fully alive and filled with joy?
So why are a majority of emails we get from our audience about deep discontent, emptiness, and a lack of purpose?
So what’s the secret? How does one create a life that is fully alive?
I have been reading the book Fully Alive by Ken Davis and the answer to this question wasn’t what I thought it would be. The answer was hard for me to accept.
A simple truth
If you look carefully, you will find people all around you who show few signs of life.
This is a truth that I had to accept. How do you define a life fully alive? What does it consist of? Is it recognition, wealth, the approval of your peers? You know in your heart that these things aren’t the answer. It is something much deeper, more profound, and scarier…
Adversity: this is how we experience and learn. Your story is filled with peaks and valleys. It’s the time in the valley where the keys you seek are waiting in plain site. It’s an answer we might not like but it is the answer.
My own journey to finding a life fully alive has been a long one. There were two truths I learned the last four years recovering from a tragic accident that put me under hospital care for almost two years:
- Live with nothing to prove and nothing to hide.
- A full life doesn’t exist in the comfort zone.
“A comfortable life is not the path to being fully alive. It’s a ticket to boredom and despair.” —Ken Davis
My life has been great! I have been married to my best friend for 25 years. We have three incredible boys who I love spending time with. My life is full of great friends. I was a Navy fighter pilot and have had great success in business.
So why did I feel this deep smoldering discontent?
Life had plateaued and wasn’t moving me towards anything exciting. There were no big goals to work on that would make a difference in others lives. When your life is focused on the present your dreams will die a slow death.
Living a life fully alive requires you to live outside of your comfort zone and lean into the adversity of life. It’s not an easy process but it’s worth the effort.
Become the author of your future!
Live with nothing to prove!
We waste so much time in life trying to prove our worth with the things we own, the power we yield and the circle of influence we have that we forget all of that can be taken in an instant. None of it is a measure of worth. I spent much of my early life trying to validate my worth by selfishly motivated attempts to get people to like me.
When God healed me at my accident (which should have been fatal) I felt a supernatural surge of life in the knowledge that I was one of a kind, a rare work of art painted by the Creator of the universe. I was made in His image with colors and texture and purpose like no one else. Even more, my value was solidified when that Creator sacrificed His Son for me. I cannot be discounted. A rare painting sells for millions. A unique creation….. paid for by God’s Son….. Priceless!
He gave me worth. I have nothing to prove.
Live with nothing to hide!
I have never seen destruction like that which comes when we try to live two lives. When our energy, time and emotional effort are wasted keeping secret sins hidden from the people we love and the world we live in, everything eventually caves in. A glance at news coverage of the public exposure of political, business, and even religious leaders who have lived with something to hide reveals a wide path of collateral devastation strewn along life’s path.
When we clean out the garbage in our lives and live an open life designed to honor our Creator, it’s like a breath of fresh air. This is hard and painful work. I know. I have been there. But how invigorating it is to open the windows, pull up the shades, and live with nothing to hide.
Live with Nothing to Lose!
Life was never meant to be a waiting room for death, nor a waiting room for eternal life. Eternal life starts the moment we began to trust Christ to lead us.
From that moment we can live with nothing to prove.
From that moment we are forgiven and given freedom to live with nothing to hide.
From that moment we are also given a hope that transcends death.
Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Paul was ready to suffer and die for his cause. He wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. He knew that every situation, no matter how threatening or difficult, had an ultimate outcome for good. He writes: “Friends, don’t get me wrong. By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Every one that I know that has truly made a difference in the lives of others has taken risks along the way. They were willing to step out of their comfort zone and step into the lives of others. They lead by example and saw inevitable failures as just one possible outcome of a decision. Every outcome provided the experience to move forward.
You can make the same impact!
The cost of living fully
Have you counted the cost of moving forward? Maybe it’s more important to ask if you have counted the cost of not moving forward? There is not a formula to follow. Unfortunately there isn’t a download in my library on the 7 step process to guarantee a life fully alive.
If you are want to get clarity on the life you want to create for yourself. One that is in alignment with what God has called you to do my advice is so start with prayer. The second step is to get around like minded individuals to walk you with this incredible journey. I would highly recommend joining a mastermind group or forum. The third area I would recommend is read books and article on how others developed a life full of fruit and you will find answers to the questions you have. Participate in their stories and then make your own!
There is a cost to living a life fully alive but it’s available to you and the rent is due every day.
What’s your story?
How did you find a life fully alive? On a scale of 1-10 where are you and where do you want to be? What is slowing you down or standing in your way of finding a full life? Please share in the comments and I will be sure to get back to you!
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