I wish I knewLiving a life without REGRETS,

living a life with PURPOSE

Forbes Magazine (18 Aug, 2012)

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language• Not asking that girl/boy out

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language• Not asking that girl/boy out• Working so much at the expense of family and

friendships

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language• Not asking that girl/boy out• Working so much at the expense of family and

friendships• Worrying about what others thought about

me so much

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language• Not asking that girl/boy out• Working so much at the expense of family and

friendships• Worrying about what others thought about

me so much• Not having enough confidence in myself

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Learning another language• Not asking that girl/boy out• Working so much at the expense of family and

friendships• Worrying about what others thought about

me so much• Not having enough confidence in myself• Living the life that my parents wanted me to

live instead of the one I wanted to

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends• Letting my marriage break down

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends• Letting my marriage break down• Taught my kids to do stuff more

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends• Letting my marriage break down• Taught my kids to do stuff more• Burying the hatchet with a family member or

old friend

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends• Letting my marriage break down• Taught my kids to do stuff more• Burying the hatchet with a family member or

old friend• Not asking that girl/boy out

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Gone on more trips with the family/friends• Letting my marriage break down• Taught my kids to do stuff more• Burying the hatchet with a family member or

old friend• Not asking that girl/boy out• Getting involved with the wrong group of

friends when I was younger

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Choosing the practical job over the one I really

wanted

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Choosing the practical job over the one I really

wanted• Spending more time with the kids

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Choosing the practical job over the one I really

wanted• Spending more time with the kids• Not taking care of my health when I had the

chance

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Choosing the practical job over the one I really

wanted• Spending more time with the kids• Not taking care of my health when I had the

chance• Not visiting a dying friend before he died

Some of the 25 biggest regrets:• Choosing the practical job over the one I really

wanted• Spending more time with the kids• Not taking care of my health when I had the

chance• Not visiting a dying friend before he died• Being a better father or mother

3 main realms of life regrets (from 20, 30, 40… death bed)

3 main realms of life regrets (from 20, 30, 40… death bed) • The realm of Finance

3 main realms of life regrets (from 20, 30, 40… death bed) • The realm of Finance • The realm of Relationships

3 main realms of life regrets (from 20, 30, 40… death bed) • The realm of Finance • The realm of Relationships • The realm of Character

When it comes to life, we tend to approach it in few ways:

When it comes to life, we tend to approach it in few ways: • Reaction

When it comes to life, we tend to approach it in few ways: • Reaction• Conformity

When it comes to life, we tend to approach it in few ways: • Reaction• Conformity• Independence

In this series, we want to approach life with INTENTIONALITY:

In this series, we want to approach life with INTENTIONALITY: • In self help books = Begin with the end in

mind

In this series, we want to approach life with INTENTIONALITY: • In self help books = Begin with the end in

mind• In engineering = Reverse engineering

In this series, we want to approach life with INTENTIONALITY: • In self help books = Begin with the end in

mind• In engineering = Reverse engineering• In Ecclesiastes 7:8 = “The end of a matter is

better than its beginning

In this series, we want to approach life with INTENTIONALITY: • In self help books = Begin with the end in

mind• In engineering = Reverse engineering• In Ecclesiastes 7:8 = “The end of a matter is

better than its beginning

Truly in life, it’s not how you startbut how you finish.

Intentional Living

Intentional Living• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and

determining how we should live NOW.

Intentional Living• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and

determining how we should live NOW. • Anticipating life FORWARD and living it

BACKWARD

Intentional Living• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and

determining how we should live NOW. • Anticipating life FORWARD and living it

BACKWARD • Making better decisions NOW and having

fewer regrets LATER.

Intentional Living• Painting a picture of a preferred FUTURE and

determining how we should live NOW. • Anticipating life FORWARD and living it

BACKWARD • Making better decisions NOW and having

fewer regrets LATER. • Enduring uncomfortable or even painful

changes NOW and enjoying the freedom and the reward LATER.

Intentional Living

Intentional Living• Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)

“Write the vision, And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.”

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts•How to gain financial margin

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts•How to gain financial margin •How to have a strong marriage

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts•How to gain financial margin •How to have a strong marriage•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts•How to gain financial margin •How to have a strong marriage•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life •How to keep anger at bay

Intentional LivingNext few weeks, “I Wish I Knew”:•How to make better decisions•How to get out of debts•How to gain financial margin •How to have a strong marriage•How to build a healthy dating life / parenting life •How to keep anger at bay•How to avoid forgiveness trap

Part 1: How to make better decisions

Our Decisions, not our Desires determine our Destinations.

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I have a clear priority in life

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I have a clear priority in life– Do I gather all the facts / research thoroughly?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I have a clear priority in life– Do I gather all the facts / research thoroughly?– Do I listen to all parties?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I make an impulsive / emotional decision?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I make an impulsive / emotional decision?– Do I weigh all possible outcome, both short and

long term?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I violate any clear moral / ethical principle of

God?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

1. Principles - What is the right thing to do? •Principles that applies in almost every decisions:– Do I violate any clear moral / ethical principle of

God?– Do I make a together decision (for couples)

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Wise counsel

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Wise counsel

• People who love you / have best interest for you

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Wise counsel

• People who love you / have best interest for you• People who are part of the problem or part of

the solution

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Rehoboam (1 King 12) – rejected wise counsel, listened wrong counsel

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on seeking wise counsel:

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on seeking wise counsel:– Pro 12:15 - The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advice

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on seeking wise counsel:– Pro 12:15 - The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advice– Pro 15:22 - Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with

many advisers they succeed

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on seeking wise counsel:– Pro 11:14 - Where there is no guidance, a people

falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

2. People - Who can I go to for wise counsel? •Proverbs has overwhelming many verses on seeking wise counsel:– Pro 11:14 - Where there is no guidance, a people

falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety

– King Solomon wrote most of it – the wisest man seeks wise counsel!

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:– Never decide without seeking God

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:– Never decide without seeking God– Never decide without submitting it to God

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:– Never decide without seeking God

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •For major decision in life:– Never decide without seeking God– Never decide without submitting it to God

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •God knows best, God loves us most.

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this? •God knows best, God loves us most. •Lot and Abram (Gen 13) – Lot decided based on the natural, Abram decided based on the divine.

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?•Pro 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

3. Prayers - What is God saying in this?•Pro 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans•Proverbs 16:9 - In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in the next step?

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in the next step? •OT - David inquire of the Lord at every battle

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God•How can I respond to this? Can I trust God in the next step? •OT - David inquire of the Lord at every battle•NT - Paul changes his planned journey as HS leads

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God•Pro 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails

4 Guiding Rules of Better Decision Making:

4. Providence - the divine intervention / engineering of God•Pro 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails•Rom 8:28 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose

Our Decisions, not our Desires determine our Destinations.

Take away reflections:

Take away reflections:• How did you make decisions in the past?

Take away reflections:• How did you make decisions in the past?• How are you going to make decisions moving

forward?

Part 1: How to make better decisions