How comfortable would you be if the metal in your dream home was only strong enough to support the house during fair weather? You’d be uncomfortable and consider that house with the unreliable metal structure a poor investment of your time and money. You’d also find it unsafe during inclimate times and impractical for everyday use because of its unpredictability. When you ignore, depress or suppress your mettle you lose the ability to be reliable and structurally sound to yourself and to others. In other words, during those “hanging in there” moments when situations rock you, you don’t have the intestinal fortitude and wherewithal to push through and past them. Your structure is weak and unpredictable. Mettle builds character all-year round, in both good and bad times.

You had your life all planned out. You knew what you were supposed to be when you grew up, where you were supposed to live, when you’d meet your soul mate, how long you’d work at your job before you moved on, how much money you’d save for retirement…but things changed. What happens when circumstances change and your plan was no longer in effect? What happens to your ambitions and goals? What happens to YOU?

Given all that you’ve suffered through this year, you deserve an extreme home makeover; one that involves construction on the interior, exterior and landscaping of your physiological house – your spirit, soul and mind. As 2009 draws to a close, leave that old house with its cracks, creaks and leaks. A new dawn breaks just over the 2010 horizon. It’s time to start feeling good again because God’s got some great things in store for you. Get ready to move into your newly expanded home.

Within each of us lies an inner strength, a deep-seated courage, and a “take the bull by the horns” attitude. It’s what makes the ordinary extraordinary. For some, this type of assertiveness is part of their dominant DNA. They display unabashed fearlessness every day. For others, it subconsciously and involuntarily surfaces during those “fight or flight” moments generally when “flight” is not an option. It rises like a phoenix from the proverbial ashes to defend, protect and rescue. Then there are those who make the conscious decision to tap into their assertive selves to do amazing, over the top, “no holds barred” things.

Consider that there are no two people alike in the entire world. There may be similarities and likenesses but there are no exactitudes. No one else in any corner of the world has our individual mix of ingredients: gifts, skills, talents, abilities, intelligence, wit, humor, strength, fortitude, ambitions, hopes, dreams, passions, etc. We are each custom made, special editions. We contain an intrinsic worth that make us uniquely and remarkably priceless. Why, then, do we devalue ourselves and our ability to accomplish extraordinary things?

“Getting in your own way” is, in essence, like traveling down a road and finding it blocked. You consult your maps and analyze the GPS for alternative routes, but considering the roadblock in front of you (its ominous size and weight compared to your stature), you determine the risks of travel too great and the reward of reaching your intended goal no longer significant. Instead of negotiating around the roadblock, you decide to turn away thus allowing the roadblock to determine your movement and wane your current and perhaps future intentions for forward travel. You can be so much more than what you are – and can travel further than you ever thought possible – if you remember to have faith in God, in yourself and in your talents, skills and abilities…and if you, get out of our own way.

Names such as “failure,” “loser,” and “worthless” subconsciously influence who we think we are, what we believe we can accomplish, our value and our worth. These names not only distort our opinion of ourselves but they also impact our perception of others and how we believe they see us. Imagine being known as a “winner” and “high achiever”; “innovative” and “keen”? How about “worthy” – worthy of love, worthy of happiness, worthy of success and reward? We can, with a transformation of mindset, overcome defamation and correct the misinformation that we (and what we think others) believe. Here’s how…

To walk in faith you’ll have to believe in what you can’t immediately experience; expect what you don’t immediately have; envision what isn’t immediately visible to the naked eye; and speak as if your dream has already come true. You must confidently believe and trust and anticipate your success.

Challenges come to test your mettle. Brutal and scorching, they force you to be strong so that you can bear fruit. You can’t wallow in self pity and aggrandize about the emotional strain you feel. You haven’t time. The orange seed has timeframe for which it must grow into an orange tree and a season in which it must produce fruit. You, too, have a timeframe for which you must grow and develop and a season in which you must bear fruit.