One of my motivating reasons for self-development is to consistently operate as the person I was created to be and use this, my purpose, as the reference point for my behaviors.

One morning while in the gym, I started cranking out bench press reps. I got to where my mind said, “Stop, you’re tired” but I pushed two more times. Then, I felt unusually tired to the point of slight weakness. Even though I thought I knew when to stop, I was using a faulty reference point I had established, the night before. It was one that said push beyond my stopping point. Going to sleep after such a suggestion seemed to reinforce that behavior or even embedded it into my subconscious. Imagine locking in this or other faulty programming that can affect your health, well-being, or development. Fortunately, with congruence between your conscious and subconscious comes clarity on where your reference point really is.

It is critical that you optimize the frame of mind in which you go to bed because it is when your reference point for the next day gets engraved.

A stirring question would be, how do you know who is the person you were created to be, so you can reference that outstanding individual? According to Jeremiah 29:11, you were created to exhibit God’s glory in what you do and speak. Because you have unique gifts, you have the capacity to fascinate others with certain things you do or say. Having someone ask, “How did you do that?” or say, “It’s fascinating to hear you say that” would not be an outlandish occurrence. Besides, living in your purpose brings fulfillment.

If you are not living in your purpose, the devil wins. In addition, you feel defeated, depressed, or aimless.

When you are aligned with the correct reference point, your actions would include adding value to others and yourself, not inadvertently being hurtful. True, there may be distractions which abound to the contrary. But through Him you are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37).