OWNERSHIP
As you prepare to transition into your next phase it’s so important the you’re in tune with yourself! Truly understanding your strengths and your weaknesses gives you the baseline. It helps you to lay a solid foundation to build on. To be honest that knowledge will be your superpower as you progress! Being self-aware is one thing but understanding WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST is the BIGGEST FLEX!!! We’re all searching for our identity and a place to belong! There’s not greater way to discover WHO YOU ARE, than to consult with the one that CREATED YOU. Let’s take a minute to EXPLORE the very ESSENCE OF YOU!
STEP 1: You must first understand WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!
Simply knowing who you are and who you belong to can CHANGE THE GAME! I’m sure that if I asked you about your heritage you would probably instantly mention your parents. To be honest, you wouldn’t be wrong, but there is another family member that is just a touch higher than your parents…… That would be the ALMIGHTY G-O-D! Before you had an earthly mother and father, you had a HEAVENLY FATHER! GOD literally created everything that walks this earth! I mean EVERYTHING!! The birds, the people, the stars, the food, and most importantly the people! GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH and he’s so SELFLESS! He wants to see you PROSPER and really LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE! Although we were all born SINNERS, GOD created a path for us to attain SALVATION. He thinks so highly of you and he created you to govern this earth! The means that he appointed US to be the leaders of this world. He made us in his image! When you are connected to the MOST HIGH you officially become ROYALTY! When you are a KING or a QUEEN you hold yourself to a higher standard. You hold yourself accountable and you don’t think or dream small! EVERYTHING IS ELEVATED! You literally RISE TO THE OCCASION and take OWNERSHIP of your experiences! I know that many of you may not believe me. Let’s be real many of you think I’m gassing you up right now but allow me to show you the EVIDENCE through his word!
ACTION ITEM: GOD literally sent his only son down to earth to die for you sins so that you would have access to everlasting life. So that you could have access to SALVATION! So that he could reconnect with you! When you are apart of the kingdom your load becomes easier to carry because you know that you aren’t alone. GOD has extended the olive branch but it’s up to us to accept the invitation! GOD LOVES US, so we must learn to display GRATITTUE! Acknowledging that GOD is your SOURCE and that you want to be in relationship with him is the GREATEST DECSION you could ever make. GOD provides your strength and he is the light that will reveal your path. His LOVE will EMPOWER YOU!
Answer the following questions:
- Who is your source? How do you access your source?
- Are you allowing any outside sources to influence your life?
- If yes, why and how is that working for you?
- Do you ever feel depleted or straight up exhausted from trying to fulfill your daily duties?
- What do you feel needs to be adjusted to create a more balanced lifestyle?
GUIDING SCRIPTURES:
GENESIS 1: 26-27 (NLT) says, “Then God said, “Let us make human beings[b] in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground. So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
JOHN 3:16-17 (NLT) says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
ROMANS 10:9-10 (NLT) says, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”
JEREMIAH 29:11 (NLT) says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”
1 CORINTHIANS 8:6-7 (NLT) says, “There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.”
STEP 2: You must embrace your individuality FULLY!
The title of my latest book is “I’m Gon’ Need My Shirt Back: Inspirational Workbook for Student-Athletes.” I chose this title because I wanted to use it as an analogy to remind student-athletes that it’s so important to VALUE your UNIQUE DIFFERENCES! In this analogy the T-SHIRT represents your LEGACY, NAME, INDEPENCNCE, INDIVIDUALITY and everything you’ve learned thus far. A T-SHIRT is a common piece of clothing that everyone owns. It tells a story and shows the journey travelled. Throughout your journey you’ve earned so many merits, badges, and stripes! Overtime you’ve learned many life lessons that are now attached to your T-SHIRT! The collegiate journey will expose you to so many influences and really challenge your identity. Many student-athletes tend to get lost in the sauce because their interactions on campus suggests that they should conform to the way of THIS WORLD! This is the worst thing you can do, especially as a young adult! As you travel through this process you must hold on to your individuality and hold on tight to your personality! When you commit to an INSTITUTION, this game shifts from being “JUST A GAME” to being “A BUSINESS” and this shift is extremely significant! If you’re not secure in yourself, you might be easily encouraged to conform! Knowing yourself and what makes you tick will help you tailor a unique approach to taking OWNERSHIP of your EXPERIENCE!
ACTION ITEM: You’re with yourself all day every day, so if you don’t keep it 100% with yourself how can you expect anyone else to do so? In this section I want you to take a moment to answer the following questions! Make sure you are HONEST and keep it a buck with yourself. Knowing where you currently are and having a vision for where you’d like to go will help you enhance your approach. There’s power in confronting your shortcomings. Simply acknowledging can change the way you perceive it and empower you to adjust.
IDENTITY
- What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
- What do you bring to the TABLE? What do you need to change?
- What makes you, you? What’s a fun fact about you that some people would say is weird?
- Do you own your differences? Do you VALUE you unique traits?
- What are you most afraid of?
- Do you seek praise and validation? Why?
DREAM
- When is the last time you DREAMED FREEELY? What has GOD REVEALED to you in your DREAMS?
- What do you WANT out of life? If there were not limiting circumstances what would your life look like?
- What are your GIFTS? How do you plan to use them to impact the world?
STEP 3: You must be ok with adjusting often and learning how to PIVOT!
Your level of success will be determined by your preparation and ability to PIVOT! GOD has literally placed everything that you need inside of you. He’s there to help you navigate this crazy journey you are not alone! Humble yourself and acknowledge him daily. Ask for directions, strength, and guidance! Recognize that he is your SOURCE! Make sure you evaluate what you allow to influence you and value your individuality! Know that YOU ARE ENOUGH and whatever you’re struggling with you can FIXED! Be PATIENT with yourself and give yourself GRACE! This journey is about PROGRESS not PERFECTION! You must stay COMMITTED to YOUR CORE VALUES and MORALS.
REQUIREMENTS
- What habits do you need to break that are slowing down your progress?
- What habits need to be implemented to be successful?
STANDARDS
- Why is your WHY? How will you leave your impact?
- What are your CORE VALUES? What CHARACTERISTICS do you VALUE?
COMMITMENT:
- Are you COMMITTED to the PROCESS?
- Are you COMMITTED to making this PROCESS about more than YOURSELF?
- Are you COMMITTED to giving your ALL in EVERYTHING you pursue?
- Do you believe that you CAN DO THIS? YES OR NO? WHY?
PRAYER: GOD please allow me to be humble enough to take directions and strong enough to stand firm in my morals and standards. Help me to know when to draw the line in the sand and when to ask for more guidance. Lord please give me discernment to recognize who’s here to develop me and who’s here to exploit me! Help me to adopt a solid GROWTH MINDSET and be willing to put in the WORK to adjust. Lord please don’t allow me to become lazy and complacent! Help me to hear your voice and respond with nothing less than OBEDIENCE! I understand that this opportunity is GOD GIVEN and there’s purpose attached to everything. Help me to know what to focus on and what to release. Also give me the discipline to develop the skills I’ll need to continuously grow! Thank you for your love, your guidance, and your word. You are my SOURCE and I know that you will supply my needs. Give me the know how to COMMIT to your VISION, you PLAN, and YOUR WILL! I pray it all in the MIGHTY name of JESUS CHRIST! AMEN!
BLOG INSPIRATION: I’m Gon’ Need My Shirt Back: Inspirational Workbook for Student Athletes (pg. 10-20). Refer to these pages if you need more information. Visit our shop to pick up a copy of this workbook for more concepts and techniques: Shop | level27 (level27coaching.com)
SONG OF THE WEEK: In Tune by Big Sean & Metro Boomin