“...[Daniel] went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room... He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.” – Daniel 6:10 (NLT)
Recently, I heard a pastor say that Twitter and Facebook give all of us the opportunity to “share the best and hide the rest.” The front stage—what we let others see—ends up being a performance, while the back stage—who we really are—gets hidden. We put our best foot forward in public, but let down in private.
Impressing others from a distance with our strength or abilities is easy; they’ll enjoy the performance. But impact happens in life-on-life relationships, when who we are is exposed and shared with others. It’s mentoring and discipleship. In 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT), Paul shares the power of authentic relationships: “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.”
Paul knew that if the good news of salvation and a new life in Christ was going to stick, it had to intersect with everyday life. But, we all need to be shown how to live for Christ. We need to see what it looks like in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of life. Those who model this type of living are what I like to call “High Impact People.”
High Impact People make a big difference in the culture of a lasting organization.
They change the perspective. They change the attitude, effort and approach. They even change what others believe is possible. Ultimately, they change the way things are done. High Impact People are not always the most vocal, but they always lead by example.
There’s a long list of High Impact People in sports, including these below.
•Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 consecutive baseball games and is respected for his consistent work ethic.
•Mike Singletary, Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears, spent hours teaching new teammates how to study film and put in the time necessary to be their best.
•Peyton Manning uses every minute, even on the sidelines, to find ways to dissect the opponent and make plays. He takes responsibility if they lose and shares credit when they win.
•Former Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy modeled integrity and created a winning culture.
•Missy Franklin, five-time Olympic medalist in swimming, asks God to make her a positive role model for young athletes.
High Impact People develop behind-the-scenes habits that produce front-stage behavior.
When Daniel heard about the “no prayer or else” rule, he did what he had always done—he prayed. He knew that if he buckled under pressure, others would, too. A lot was at stake for him to remain faithful in the way he lived, especially when times got tough. Because of Daniel’s courageous example, his friends were empowered to take their own stands when confronted.
With High Impact People, what you see is what you get. No matter what. The small choices they make every day not only lead to good outcomes, but they influence others as well. This works for families, teams, businesses, schools—you name it! And it also works with your health.
Establishing High Impact Health Habits will improve your health.
These habits have the potential to affect those around you as well. The following is a list of High Impact Health Habits that work.
Eat Clean – The quality of food you eat directly and substantially impacts your quality of life.
1. Commit to 21 days of healthy eating.
2. Choose an organic, natural, plant-based diet.
3. Cut your portions in half.
Move More – The more you move, the easier it is to keep moving.
1. Exercise every day and vary the intensity.
(With one day of rest.)
2. Do strength training on three of those days.
3. Put an endurance event on your calendar.
(And bring a friend!)
Stress Less – Our sleep and prayer habits affect us deeply.
1. Get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
2. Pray without ceasing. Trust God for everything.
3. Drink more water, and reduce your reliance
on caffeine.
These are High Impact Health Habits for High Impact People. Let’s lead by example in all areas of our lives and have a positive, lasting impact on those around us! New habits can be formed within 21 days if you are consistent. The days lead to months, and months to years. You can do this!
Originally Published: March 2014