I once heard a speaker use the statement, “I have been sentenced to success!” I heard that almost twenty years ago, yet it still sticks in my

head.

Imagine that. What if we had been given a life sentence to serve, say 75

years, and the sentence was to do time in a place called “Success”? The

truth is that we have.

Let me back up. We have been given a life sentence. But, unlike a sentencing

in a real life courtroom, we get to actually choose where we will “do our

time.”

Here are some of the choices people make:

The prison of poverty. Poor people are no better or kinder or anything else

than people with money. People are people regardless of how much money they

have. Frankly, I have had little and I have had a lot, and yes, I will

choose having a lot! When you choose to live in poverty you are in a prison

that does not allow you the freedoms we were intended to experience. We are

unable to help others as we desire. My advice? Don’t choose a sentence to

the prison of poverty.

The prison of depression. Depression is like a blanket that overwhelms you

and eventually smothers you. Now before you go accusing me with, “Chris. You

just don’t understand.” Yes I do. I have had a history of depression.

Depression is rampant in my family of origin. I know firsthand what a prison

depression is. When you are locked up in depression you cannot live life as

it was intended. But you can get out! My advice? Don’t choose a sentence to

the prison of depression.

The prison of the lack of health. Lacking health is a real pain! The freedom

we lose when we choose to live in a state of a lack of health is terrible –

and unnecessary! We don’t have to live in that prison. We can choose a

different sentence! We can choose health! My advice? Don’t choose a sentence

to the prison of the lack of health.

The prison of doubt, worry, and fear. This is a dark, dark prison. It is one

that haunts you the whole time you reside there. It makes you believe that

the surroundings are worse than the really are. It keeps you from enjoying

life and becoming the kind of person you were intended to become! My advice?

Don’t choose a sentence to the prison of poverty. My advice? Don’t choose a

sentence to the prison of doubt, worry and fear.

There is another option. You can choose to be sentenced to success! You can

choose to actually be set free! You can choose to walk out of that courtroom

and live the life that you choose!

What can you experience when you are sentenced to success? How about these:

Good health

Financial abundance

Emotional freedom

Positive relationships

A career you love

Spiritual liberty

And how will you experience these? By choice. Your choice. You choose

exactly what kind of life you will live. You choose the sentence you will

serve here on earth and the experience that you have.

Will you languish in a dark prison or in the open freedom that comes from

the sentence of success? That depends on the choices you make.

I challenge you to choose this day to:

Pursue financial independence

Develop yourself spiritually

Make a change so you are in a career you love

Re-commit yourself to loving relationships

Achieve emotional health

Make a choice TODAY. Do not spend another day in a prison where you do not

belong!

Where will you serve your sentence? You get to decide.

As for me?

I have been sentenced to success!