偶爾會有人打電話來，跟我談起他們在事業上困擾著他們的掙扎。他們有著很好的產品、擁有事業所需的技能，也對自己正在做的事有呼召，但卻怎麼都做不起來。他們不斷企圖生存下去，但總發現自己無法蓬勃發展。 

因為我曾經經歷過這些，所以我可以，像是看著鏡子一樣，為他們指出一個可能會讓他們感到不舒服的方向，許多事業擁有成功的必要因素，但卻有一些東西持續阻礙他們前進。有時是恐懼，不願承擔促進增長和發展，所需可估算的風險。其他時候是缺乏自信，或者聽從他們過去聽到那些令人沮喪，甚至貶低的話語持續迴盪著。

負面的自我對話，可能是嘗試建立事業的強大敵人。然而，我可以肯定地說，每個曾經取得成功的人 – 無論是發明家、創新者、有遠見的人還是任何領域的領導者 – 都必須克服對過去失敗的恐懼和記憶。

我們有萊特兄弟的經典例子，他們經常因為人類可以飛行的想法而受到嘲笑，還有湯瑪斯 · 愛迪生，他在失敗了數百次之後，才成功發明了鎢絲燈泡。如果他們聽了批評者的意見，或者因為過去的失敗而失去信心，他們就會在原地止步。

如同盯著後視鏡開車一般，生活中不斷向後看，會嚴重影響我們前進的能力。耶穌基督向追隨者講述，一心一意地跟隨祂的重要性。「耶穌說：手扶著犁向後看的，不配進　神的國。」（路加福音9章62節）。如果我們不斷地往後看，就很難保持筆直的走前面的道路。

所以，我們要如何才能將所知道的好產品、擁有的技能以及我們對所做工作的熱情，轉化為成功呢？我想到了聖經中的另一段經文給了我們答案。羅馬書 12 章 2 節給出了這樣的處方：「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化。」

我們周圍的世界急於告訴我們：我們不可能成功、我們正在努力做的事情是愚蠢的，注定會失敗。我們可能會帶著可以追溯到童年時代的記憶，那些嚴厲、苛刻話語的記憶，足以讓我們相信，自己的希望和夢想永遠無法實現，或永遠遙不可及。

不要深陷於你的過去。我們需要處理這些精神上的「垃圾」。做到這一點的最好方法，是請求上帝幫助更新你的思想，使你能夠與祂如何看你的潛力保持著一致。專注於祂對你的評價，與祂在你內裡且對你有利，而為你所要成就的一切。

使徒保羅談到他必須克服的許多逆境時說：「我靠著那加給我力量的，我凡事都能做」（腓立比書 4章13節）。他還寫道：「我的　神必照他榮耀的豐富，在基督耶穌裏，使你們一切所需用的都充足。」（腓立比書 4章19節）。如果你相信主呼召你去做某個特定的事業或目標，相信祂會提供你成功所需的一切。

© 2022版權所有非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和 Rick Boxx 的純全時刻，這本刊物主要 是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx 最新出版的書「提供實用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。」

備註：如果你有聖經想閱讀更多內容，請考慮以下經文：

詩篇 37篇4-7節
37:4 又要以耶和華為樂，他就將你心裏所求的賜給你。
37:5 當將你的事交託耶和華，並倚靠他，他就必成全。
37:6 他要使你的公義如光發出，使你的公平明如正午。
37:7 你當默然倚靠耶和華，耐性等候他；不要因那道路通達的和那惡謀成就的心懷不平。
箴言 3章5-6節、12節、25節
3:5 你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，
3:6 在你一切所行的事上都要認定他，他必指引你的路。
3:12 因為耶和華所愛的，他必責備，正如父親責備所喜愛的兒子。
3:25 忽然來的驚恐，不要害怕；惡人遭毀滅，也不要恐懼。
箴言12章25節
12:25 人心憂慮，屈而不伸；一句良言，使心歡樂。
以賽亞書 41章10節
41:10 你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的　神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。
耶利米書 29章11節
29:11 耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。
耶利米書33章3節
33:3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。
路加福音 14章25-30節
14:25 有極多的人和耶穌同行。他轉過來對他們說：
14:26 「人到我這裏來，若不愛我勝過愛（愛我勝過愛：原文是恨）自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姊妹，和自己的性命，就不能作我的門徒。
14:27 凡不背著自己十字架跟從我的，也不能作我的門徒。
14:28 你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？
14:29 恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：
14:30 『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』

反省與問題討論

1. 你覺得自己正在按計劃實現事業所設定的目的和目標嗎 ?還是覺得有什麼阻礙了你實現想要的成功呢?請解釋你的答案。
2. 你自己或認識的人是否曾經因為負面的想法而苦苦掙扎，如恐懼、缺乏自信或記憶中別人的評論，讓你相信自己注定失敗？這對你向前邁進、積極面對擺在面前挑戰的能力有何影響？
3. 羅馬書 12章2節 說到，不要效法這個世界，而是「心意更新而變化」。你認為這是什麼意思？我們如何把它付諸實踐？
4. 你認為信靠上帝和祂的指引與供應，在我們所選的職場中，給予我們能力能夠成功，扮演甚麼角色？你相信祂想積極參與我們的決定和我們所採取的行動嗎？請解釋你的答案。

WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?

By Rick Boxx

Occasionally someone will call to talk with me about struggles in their business that puzzle them. They have a good product, possess skills needed for their business, and feel called to what they are doing, but cannot seem to prosper. They are managing to survive but have found themselves unable to thrive. 
 
Because I have been there in my own business experience, I can point them in a direction that might feel uncomfortable, like looking in the mirror. Many businesses have the necessary ingredients for success, but something continues to hold them back. Sometimes it is fear, reluctance to take calculated risks necessary for further growth and development. Other times it is a lack of self-confidence, or listening to the echoes of discouraging, even demeaning words they have heard in the past.

Negative self-talk can be a formidable foe in trying to build a business. However, I think it would be safe to say that every person who has ever achieved success – whether as an inventor, innovator, visionary, or leader in any sphere – has had to overcome both fear and memories of past failures.

We have the classic examples of the Wright brothers, often ridiculed for their idea that it would be possible for humans to fly, and Thomas Edison, whose success inventing the incandescent bulb came only after failing hundreds of times. If they had listened to their detractors, or lost confidence because of past failures, they would have stopped dead in their tracks.

Just as trying to drive a car by staring in the rearview mirror, continually looking backward in life can severely affect our ability to move forward. Jesus Christ was speaking to some of His followers about the importance of single-minded commitment to following Him. He said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”(Luke 9:62). It is hard to keep to a straight path if we are constantly looking to see what is behind us.

So, how can we turn what we know to be a good product, along with the skills we possess and our passion for what we are doing, into success? I think another passage from the Bible gives us the answer. Romans 12:2 offers this prescription, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

The world around us is very eager to tell us that we cannot succeed, that what we are trying to do is foolish and doomed to failure. We might carry with us memories dating back to our childhood, memories of harsh, mean-spirited declarations that convinced us that our hopes and dreams would always be unattainable, forever beyond our reach.

Don’t wallow in your past. We need to dispose of such mental “garbage.” And the best way for doing this is to ask God to help in renewing your mind, enabling you instead to line up with how He sees your potential. Focus on what He says about you and what He desires to do, both in you and for you.

Writing about many adversities he had to overcome, the apostle Paul stated, “I can do everything through [Christ] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). He also wrote, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). If you believe the Lord has called you to a particular enterprise or cause, trust Him to provide what you need to succeed.

Copyright 2022, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. Would you say that you are on schedule for achieving the goals and objectives you have set for yourself and your business, or do you feel that something is holding you back from realizing the success you desire? Explain your answer.
2. Have you – or someone you know – ever struggled with negative thinking, things such as fear, a lack of confidence, or memories of comments from other people that convinced you that you would always be destined for failure? How has that affected your ability to move forward, to eagerly confront the challenges lying in front of you?
3. Romans 12:2 speaks of not conforming to the world, but being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What do you think this means, and how can we put this into practice?
4. What do you think is the role of trusting in God, His direction and provision in our ability to succeed in our chosen endeavors? Do you believe He wants to be actively involved in our decisions and the actions we take? Why or why not?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Psalm 37:4-7; Proverbs 3:5-6, 12;25; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 29:11, 33:3; Luke 14:25-30

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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