Character, integrity and discipline are built each time we choose to do what we know is right and not what we feel.

For some, today started with the thought of, "I don't feel like" ... going to school, going to work, being in this city, working on my marriage, getting along with the people in my life, etc. The list of things we don't feel like doing could go on and on. As we've challenged ourselves to grow closer to the most important things in our life, I'm sure there are going to be days when we don't "feel like it". The challenge is not to make decisions based on feelings, but instead connect to God, people and your purpose through commitment.

Feelings become the very thing we use to justify what we do and what we don't do. Feelings allow us to quit when we should keep going. Living your life guided by your feelings is what puts you in the wrong relationships, the wrong jobs and the wrong situations.

What happens to the brilliant new year's resolutions everyone comes up with? You set out and determine to start working out more, or at all, and it lasts for a couple weeks and maybe even a solid month, but it seems that it quickly comes to and end. Why? Because you don't feel like working out any more and you have no commitment to it to keep you going.

I believe that the more we live by feelings, the harder it becomes to live a spirit guided life. When you choose not to do what is right once and instead to do what you feel, it becomes easier the next time to not do it again. There is a compound effect and that's what happens with the most important areas in our life. Instead of acting on our feelings, if we would commit to something outside of our them, we would grow in character, integrity and discipline, and these are all virtues we need for success in our relationships and in our lives.