Life Is What You Make It: Build a Better Life for You and Your Family

By Carl Mathis

This book was written for anyone who needs some encouragement in his or her life, or just needs some motivationsomeone who feels that life has dealt them a raw deal. It was written to givean illustration and to challenge you to pursue your hearts desire. After reading this book youjust maybemotivated to lead amore productive and fulfilling life. Just remember, nothing that is worthwhile comes easily. There may be some challenges or some setbacks in life, but dont let that stop you from reaching for yourgoal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 25, 2009
• ISBN: 9781467838467

Carl Mathis

His motivational speeches move mountains. He doesn’t make excuses for his struggles—he uses them as stepping stones to get to higher levels in his God-ordained destiny. Carl Mathis doesn’t know what it means to give up. Overcoming the obstacles of losing a spouse, having to raise three successful boys on his own and manage to write two books, he never managed to find the time to make excuses. Through his triumph over personal troubles, he strives to not only inspire and uplift, but to encourage people worldwide to find their purpose and begin walking in it. For booking info or to find out more about Carl Mathis, visit www.carlmathis.com or email [e-mail].

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© 2009 Carl Mathis. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 3/23/2009

ISBN: 978-1-4343-9121-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4678-3846-7 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Bloomington, Indiana

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1:

Condition the Mind

Chapter 2:

Decisions

Chapter 3:

Teamwork

Chapter 4:

Examining Your life

Chapter 5:

Knowing the

Right Source

Chapter 6:

Parables

Chapter 7:

Intercourse

Chapter 8:

The Process

Chapter 9:

The Victory

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

Do you know the definition of life?

Life doesn’t have a specific definition. Life is what you make it.

From the beginning of time, humans have had the ability to achieve wealth and success. Power has been placed inside of them to make their dreams come true and enjoy life.

Many have broken the code into the realm of wealth and finance, while others have neglected to put the key into the gate and open it, resulting their life a state of hard ship.

If you take a moment to look back in time, many men and women of all different backgrounds and ethnicities have taken their God-given ability and used it to their advantage, while others do not.

Life is making a decision. For example, while one person is successful by using the ability given by God, others store that ability in a box locked with a key.

Many people became wealthy and successful by simply using what was already inside of them. At the same time, many spiritual leaders sore to their highest expectation in God and fulfill their dreams in life.

Life is a world of peace and tranquility at your disposal. Taking advantage of such is all up to what you make it to be.

I don’t know how would you define life. All I could do is show you the opportunity to find the definition of what your life means to you.

How do you find the definition of life and take advantage of your God given ability?

To answer that question, start at chapter 1.

Chapter 1:

Condition the Mind

What life offers is there for anyone who has enough guts to take it. The question is this, do you want it, or how much you want it. The struggle that most people have in being successful is the fear of failure. No one wants to fail, but once you get over that fear of life defeating you by conditioning your mind, every other step will fall in place like a jigsaw puzzle.

Have you ever said to yourself, there’s got to be a better way, or why am I not as successful as my friends and neighbors? What are they doing that I am not; they seem to have it all together. I wish my life were like theirs. If you ever ask yourself these questions, then you are already successful; what you need to do is put the desires of your heart in motion.

Success can be categorized in many ways, depending on the individual. The same can be said about almost anything in life, but it’s how you perceive life to be, and how you attack it, which will determine how successful you will be. Absolutely anything you desire can be accomplished, when you put your mind to it.

Fear attacks the human mind (brains), because the mind is what controls everything that a person does. So the first step it to put a very fine filter over your mind. That way, if any negative gets through, it’s broken up so fine that it will not cause any harm to fulfilling what it is you set out to accomplish.

Operation of the Mind

The mind is a very powerful tool. You have control over it. The will to pursue begins in the same mind that you have control over. Before a person could attempt to get out from his or her bed every morning, the activity first has to start in the control system called the mind.

In Romans 12:2, the Bible said, Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

According to scholars, the mind is thought to be the seat of perception, self-consciousness, thinking, believing, remembering, hoping, desiring, willing, judging, analyzing, evaluating, reasoning, etc. To accomplish the success of life pertains to changing your mind—changing from selfish and negative thinking, which is implanted in the human nature of a human being.

In this Biblical novel, it will introduce you to seeking a motivational technique, and prompt you to go for your goal. It would also push you to strive and go for your heart’s desire, and to visually see the finish line, even before you attempt to start pursuing your dreams.

A few definitions of the mind are:

(1) Seat of thought and memory—the center of consciousness that generates thoughts, feelings, ideas, and perceptions, and stores knowledge and memories.

(2) Thinking capacity—the capacity to think, understand, and reason; has a logical mind.

(3) Desire—the desire or intention to act or behave in a particular way.

(4) Way of thinking—an opinion or personal way of thinking; I have changed my mind about going with you.

If a human mind is not conditioned, but the rest of the body wants to pursue the desire of the heart, the rest of the body will follow the mind and say, no way, I’m not going—simple, because the body will always follow and take direction from the mind.

Someone has to lead, and someone has to follow; in this case concerning the physical body, the mind is the leader and the rest of the body is the follower and has to tag along. If the body wants to go to the left, but the mind is set on going to the right, the body will never see the left, and it doesn’t matter how much the body wants to go to the left. You can only achieve what you set your mind to.

According to Scientology, the mind records data using what are called mental image pictures. Such pictures are actually three-dimensional, containing color, sound, and smell, as well as other perceptions. They also include the conclusions or speculations of the individual. Mental image pictures are continuously made by the mind—moment by moment. This is a prime example that even in the realm of science the mind is the central part of the body that contains the information needed for life.

For example, Jesus Christ is symbolically the mind (leader) of the church. And the people who follow him are the body. So for all who are Christian, their entire life should exemplify him and take direction from him, because the mind is what leads the body. Wherever the mind goes, the body has no choice but to follow.

You want to first program your mind before you make an attempt to do anything. If you have to pray, and then pray; if you have to repeat yourself till it programs your mind, then repeat yourself till it programs your mind. If you have to fast and meditate, then fast and meditate; do whatever it takes to have your mind saying, nothing will stop me from achieving my goal.

Take a good example from the original twelve disciples—if these twelve men’s minds weren’t made up to do the vision of Jesus Christ, Christianity would not be where it is today. Many gave their life, because of their commitment to the cause. There is a slogan that says, A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

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