The Exceptional Life
“Steady application may not necessarily elevate the peaks of the super performer, but it can put a foundation under him to minimize the depth of his valleys.”
_Mark Rutland, Character Matters
Exceptions happen; the mid-night call, the drop-everything-and-rush-to-the-hospital call that you receive in the middle of a meeting, an unexpected snowstorm, a flat tire…
But it is what you do between exceptions that matters. (Using Rutland’s words) It’s the steady application of fulfilling your daily duties that build the foundation of an exceptional life.
Being on time.
Keeping your promises.
Being prepared.
Coming through for people time after time after time.
These are the ingredients of an exceptional life, a life well-lived.
If you are living a borderless life moving from crisis to crisis, being pulled from pillar to post, constantly being interrupted by dings and bings of notifications and calls…
If you’re forever playing catchup, running late, missing appointments, being interrupted by one exception after the other…
If you’re harried, hurried, and worn,,,
Stumped, stressed, and tired — STOP!
It’s time to change. Life was not meant to be lived that way.
Do not allow exceptions, clutter, and confusion to define your life. These things will happen sometimes, but you minimalize their impact and frustration when you learn to live well between exceptions.
You minimalize the impact of exceptions when you learn to live well between them.
Routine is required. Say it with me: “Routine is required!”
Yes, boring, everyday, routine – things done well and done daily.
Here’s a couple things to start with.
Add a new habit.
For example, after years of my bedroom being cluttered with my clothes and endless panicky mornings trying to figure out what to wear and then find it – I determined to put my clothes away every night before going to bed, and line up what I was going to wear the next day. There are occasional exceptions, but that one new habit made my life so much better.
That’s just one little routine that I added.
The steady accumulation of little habits like that over the years will compound and help you live an exceptional life instead of a live of exceptions.
And then here’s three daily nonnegotiable “routines” that have been unbelievably helpful:
- My minimal devotional routine.
- My three fanatically committed-too routines.
- My “ONE THING I must do today” routine.
No matter what else happens, if I get these three things done, I call the day a win. And, with few exceptions, I get them done and still have time for the unexpected.
Your routines will probably look different from mine, but if you will make time to be with God, and to take care of the essential day-in and day-out things that add the most value, and if you will take care of the most important thing that has been handed to you each day – you will begin to live an exceptional life.
Oh there will be exceptions, but their impact will be minimal over the long-haul.
The ONE THING for today: There is a world of difference in the outcome of an exceptional life and a life of constant exceptions.
