Principles of Success (Day 6: FAITH) · Inspired Life, Empowered Being

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Principles of Success (Day 6: FAITH)

In the past week we've spoken about 5 principles of success as described in "The Rhythm of Life" by Matthew Kelly (more here : day-1-purpose; day-2-priorities; day-3-balance; day-4-discipline; day-5-growth). Today we delve into the sixth principle: Faith.

(Just a small but important note, the term success here can be applied to many areas of life, and ultimately, it's really just about intentionally becoming the best version of yourself.)

Principle 6: FAITH

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.": – Martin Luther King, Jr.

In The Rhythm of Life, faith isn’t presented as certainty or emotional intensity but rather as fidelity/loyalty to committed action over time. Just as love is a verb, faith is also a verb...Faith grows similarly with how trust grows in psychology: through repeated, consistent choices aligned with values, especially when feelings fluctuate (and the feelings will fluctuate). It's not so much about feeling our way into faith, but rather practicing our way into it. (gulp on this one....man...)

Psychologically, faith functions as kind of an organizing principle-making sense of things. It can provide a system for giving meaning to challenges, it can give direction to effort, and also a way to be regulated even amidst uncertainty. It's not blind. It is NOT just intellectual belief but rather a dynamic, living relationship, encompassing trust, loyalty, and a transformative way of life. Without it, the mind defaults to control, anxiety, or perfectionism. With it, uncertainty becomes tolerable. Just a note...faith doesn’t remove doubt but it can help so that we're not ruled by it and it can help us to ask the 'right' questions for clarity.

This was something that was interesting and also kind of reassuring--faith can have a rhythm where there can be seasons of clarity and seasons that feel more dry/silent. Trying to force a belief during a season that is more dry often can backfire, turning faith into a kind of performance riddled with anxiety or sense of hopelessness. Mature faith allows space for questioning while remaining committed to practice which makes faith a resilient thing rather than something that's fragile. So..in times of doubt/dryness/challenge, we can still act aligned with our values and act towards the goal. That's fidelity.

Why faith matters: Faith prevents despair during failures and instills humility during success aaand it connects us to our purpose.

POLL: What Does Faith Feel Like for You Right Now?

QUESTIONS:

"When things fall apart, I choose to believe that _________"

"What sustains me when life gets challenging?"

ACTION:

-Daily quiet time (prayer, meditation, journaling, gratitude practice).

-Spend 5–10 minutes daily reflecting on your life’s meaning or spiritual beliefs.

- Anchor Faith to Values: Ask daily: What does faith look like in action today?

-Read one story of resilience.Read stories or biographies of people who overcame hardship through belief in purpose.

CHALLENGE:

Practice surrender-release control in one area this week (assess accordingly).