Sharpening the Axe

We’ve all heard it before: a dull axe takes great strength to use. But a sharpened blade? Well, that’s wisdom at work. 

The problem is though…most of us just keep swinging!

We grind through long days, pushing harder, thinking effort alone will get us where we want to go. And while hard work definitely matters, it’s not the full equation. A dull blade can only take us so far—no matter how strong we are.

At some point, we have to stop and sharpen it. 

Sharpening the blade looks different for everyone. Maybe it’s quiet time in prayer. Maybe it’s reading the Bible. Maybe it’s diving into books that challenge how you think and expand your perspective. Or maybe, you become a runner like myself. Whatever it is, it needs to be intentional, and it needs to be routine.

See, the danger is we can get so caught up in making a living that we forget to make a life. We optimize for output, not alignment. We stay busy, but drift off course.  We negate making time for ourselves, its simple.

Intentional time spent on ourselves can force us to refine not just our strategy, but sometimes even our destination. It reconnects us to what actually matters. Because if we are not not staying spiritually grounded, the weeds don’t wait—they just grow.  And continue to grow.

Negative thoughts. Poor habits. Misaligned priorities.  They creep in slowly, quietly, and before long they take over.  To live with the growth-mindset we have to become our own gardener.  We have to stay attentive. We have to pull the weeds and protect what’s growing. We have to create space for the right things to take root. 

Whether it’s a morning routine, a regular yoga session, or just coffee with a great friend…we must invest time to stay sharp. Having a great spirit or mindset is not the result of great circumstances, its the cause.