It won't happen by accident. Anyone who has ever accomplished anything great has always been very intentional about their actions and extremely focused on their specific mission. This concept applies to all areas of life. Want a more solid relationship with Christ? Be intentional by spending time with Him daily reading his word, applying it to your life, and praying. Want better relationships with those around you? Be intentional by spending quality time with them, giving them your full attention, and appreciating the value they bring into your life. Want to improve your finances? Be intentional by having a financial plan, getting out of debt, and giving more! Want to transform your body? Be intentional by watching what you eat, how you train, and how you supplement your diet! 

Every year, so many people set new goals out of emotion and then "hope" that this is the year they will actually accomplish those goals. This is why "New Year's resolutions" don't work. After the emotions settle and another year goes by, people find themselves in the same or worse position. The following year, the same thing happens; it’s like a never-ending trap. Why? Because they are not intentional enough about their goals – "hope" can only get you so far. Many people, instead of making changes, simply walk around life playing the “blame game” as if it's someone else’s responsibility to make sure they achieve the lifestyle they want. If you really want things to change in 2017, here are a few key points that I've learned over the years that you might want to consider applying immediately; it's not too late.

1. Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life

The world is full of people waiting for someone to come and motivate them to be the kind of person they wish to be. The problem is, no one is coming to their rescue. These people are waiting for a bus on a street where no buses pass. If they don’t take 100% responsibility for their lives and put pressure on themselves, they can end up waiting forever. And most people do. You cannot achieve what you want in life by depending on someone else, apart from God. If you truly have a relationship with him, it's your responsibility to move and allow Him to fulfill His purpose through you. Your current situation is simply a bi-product of WHO you are. If you want things to change, then start making some changes. Be intentional about improving your skills, your diet, your training routine, etc. If you keep doing the same things over and over, you are going to get the same exact results every time, no exceptions. You cannot expect life to give you more than what you are willing to put in. If you want to reap a better harvest in certain areas of your life, start planting better seeds. Nothing changes until you do.

2. Stop Complaining

Over the years, I have learned that people, including myself, only complain about the things they can actually do something about. People don't complain about gravity (although we drop things and break them or we fall and hurt ourselves at times). Why? Because we can't change gravity. It simply is what it is. So the key is to stop complaining and focus our energy instead on actually doing something about it. Complaining doesn’t accomplish anything besides frustrating us and holding us back from accomplishing what we truly want in life.

3. Stop Making Excuses

The fact of the matter is, nobody cares. You're only sabotaging your own success. Seek solutions and avoid excuses. It's that simple. Nothing happens without intentional action. Remember that activity and productivity are two very different things. Many people are busy simply for the sake of being busy, but busy doing what? Learn to be very intentional about the things you do, the people you spend time with, the books you read, etc. Remember, time is the most valuable asset you have, so you can't afford to waste any of it. 

2017 is in full swing and will be over before you know it. Don't let another year pass you by with you being in the same position that you were in last year. You only get one life on this earth to achieve greatness. Don't waste your life and invest it into the things that matter. Seek God, serve people, and take intentional action. I promise you, it will change everything.