Change showed up and crashed our new year afterparty! In March, we lost our sister, Brandi. Unbeknownst to me, the day after we funeralized her was my last day playing for a ministry I served for five years. I was in mourning; I was grieving the loss of a job and relationships, but deeper than that, I was once again in transition.

One of the things I struggle with is saying goodbye! In one of my favorite films, the group sings a really touching song about saying “goodbye!” It’s such a poignant song and teaches us how to hold memories deep in our hearts while absent from one another. Those friends didn’t think they’d ever see each other again until the fateful day they were able to put the band back together! Sad, touching song or not, it’s time for saying goodbye! As a matter of fact, it’s time to start saying “hello” to goodbye! What I’m about to say may seem callous and harsh, but it isn’t. It’s long overdue for a lot of us.

Things change, they’re supposed to. We’re supposed to change and a painful yet necessary part of that is saying hello to goodbye. In truth, we’re not only saying hello to goodbye, but eventually, to greater opportunities. To a greater awareness of who we are, a deeper sense of purpose, truer knowledge of who God is and what He wants to do with you and things greater than what you could ever discover without it. Release yourself to greater, it starts with saying hello to goodbye!

In my new book, “Choosing Change,” I share lessons like these learned in the past year. Your willingness to facilitate change is the lynchpin of achievement. What you do is connected to what you do. No matter what you aspire to do in life, you’re going to have to endure change if you ever want to achieve anything. Nothing will be accomplished by staying the same. Something will have to change. What changes depends on our desire to experience achievement or accomplishment in our lives. Nothing in this life will ever change if we don’t! I told you that change is the answer to your prayer. It’s time for you to answer the call to…CHANGE!