“If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first four hours sharpening the ax”. – Abraham Lincoln

You should never be content when things are good, you should always strive to improve and be better. If you’re not improving it’s just a matter of time before you start to regress, to diminish, and eventually worsen. Each one has a different combination of talents, abilities, resources, and relationships that we should always look to improve upon. But in spite of our differences, the one thing we all have in common is the greatest asset God has given us which is ourselves. Therefore, one of the wisest things you can do to improve in any area of your life is to create the habit of bettering yourself.

Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed. – Solomon (Ecclesiastes 10:10 NLT)

Nothing that is better in life comes easy, yet oftentimes we make the process of getting better more difficult than it really is. As Solomon said, if you allow your ax to become dull it’s going to require more strength. Therefore, it’s not simply a matter of working harder but rather of working smarter. Since we (ourselves) is the greatest asset we possess, we should create the habit of improving ourselves.

Sharpening the saw means to maintain and take care of yourself. It’s the process of continually refurbishing, replenishing, and renewing yourself physically, socially, mentally and spiritually. It is the process of sharpening the ax that will empower you to consistently grow, change, and continuously better the important and unique combination of talents, abilities, resources, and relationships in your life.