You open your mailbox and notice a rather plain looking envelope addressed to you. As you walk into the house you open the envelope and find a 10 dollar bill and a card that says… Go and Change the World. You look at the envelope for a return address or any sign of who it might be from but there is none.
What would you do?
How would you spend the money?
How could you change the world with just 10 dollars?
Would it make any difference if the amount was a dollar or maybe a thousand dollars?
This is a really interesting situation. To me it would require a lot of thinking and maybe some prayer.
Some ideas come to mind…
Ten dollars could buy a meal for a homeless person.
Ten dollars could buy some business cards for a new business.
Ten dollars could buy a new book that might change someone’s life.
Here is a thought… Put yourself on the sending end.
Who would you send ten dollars to that you know would change the world?
What friend, relative, or passer-by would be the recipient?
Why not send that envelope today?
This is the power of Deliberate Actions.
Here is the definition…
Deliberate: Carefully thought out and done intentionally
Actions: The process of doing something in order to achieve a purpose
In addition to sending money, could you make someone’s day better with a phone call, an e-mail, or maybe an encouraging word? How about writing a letter to someone you haven’t seen in a long time? What about taking a few minutes out of your day to help someone or pray for someone in need.
Here is a toolkit of 10 cards that can help you create some deliberate actions of your own. You can quickly print these out on Avery business card stock and fill them in with your own names. Here are some suggested uses.
1. Fill out all ten cards with names of recipients. Put the cards in a stack upside down. Shuffle the cards and pick one each day for 10 days. Take a few minutes that day and complete the action.
2. Leave the cards blank and choose one each day to perform an action on. Choose an appropriate person and complete the action.
3. Randomize the process. Leave the action cards blank and print out a sheet of recipient cards separately. Put the names of ten people on the recipient cards. Put each set of cards into its own stack upside down. Shuffle each stack and then draw one card from each stack. Perform the action from the action card for the person on the recipient card.
Download Instructions:
- Download the Deliberate Actions template
- Template includes 2 pages, an action set and 10 recipient cards
- Open in Microsoft Word
- Add text to the cards or print blank
- Cut & paste cards as needed
- Print out on Avery Business Card stock (10 card)
- Break cards apart
- Lay them out on your desk or table
- Follow the suggested uses above.
Deliberate actions can have a profound effect on both the sender and recipient. Imagine talking to that old friend from high school or that person you admired from your last job. How about helping an aging relative or sending a letter to your mom. Most of these actions will only take a few minutes out of your busy day. How about praying for a sick friend or sending a get well card or scripture verse for encouragement.
How about putting $10 in an envelope and send it off to a budding entrepreneur to get them to take the first step. Who knows… they may just go out and change the world?
Simple… Deliberate… Actions.
