"The empires of the future are empires of the mind." Winston Churchill

I love this quote and the importance it grants the mind. I used to be enslaved to my mind like it had a power over me, a hold that I could not break. But I did have a choice, I do, I always will. I love the freedom that the mind can bring. These days I choose what to think, where to engage my mind, where to disengage. I now make conscious decisions as opposed to letting decisions be made unconsciously.  But this is not another pointless outpouring of meaningless patter. This is a blog to enshrine the decisions I've made recently, the decisions I commit to making, the changes I'll effect in my life, but most importantly the reasons for them. So here goes, brutal and unshakable honesty about what now grounds me, what's important to me and my hopes and dreams for the future. A manifesto of sorts, if you will.

1. I want to be debt free in 2 years so I have made a decision recently to start tithing. That's right 10% of my income before tax to go straight back to where it belongs, it's rightful owner. Why? Because the Bible says we should, God says we should (Leviticus 27:30). And if I want God's favour in my life, or even to not become obsessed with money and things and become a debt-riddled mess then I should. I have to, I need to.
2. I need to get fit. They if you look good you feel good and I don't feel like I look good then I can't feel good? Well maybe not necessarily but I do feel there is something of an affinity between healthiness and keeping fit and mental well being. I need the endorphines if nothing else.
3. My career- it deserves some thought. Definitely needs some direction. So some prayer needs to be devoted to this and through disciplined prayerfulness I will seek direction and hopefully gain some- at least I can be sure that God has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11)

So far this is as far as I've got although there are many things that will no doubt spring up along the way. I have learnt that every time you make a big but important decision it opens some doors and closes others. And with each door you step through there are more doors, more decisions. I'm not perfect and this will take a prayerful willingness to step in the direction of humility and I'm sure lots of personal correction and wisdom will be gleaned along the way. But until that day I will battle pride and strive for humility and hopefully get fit, in the black, and put all my ambition to some good use. :)