On a recent episode of Oprah, she interviewed a man who had lost over 500 pounds.  He didn’t have surgery or use any pills, potions or patches.  He did it the old fashioned way — one pound at a time.  A nutritionist helped him create a 2500-calorie per day menu plan, and he laced up his sneakers and started walking.  He started trying to walk one lap around the track, and over time he gradually increased his distance.  Now he is able to walk four miles a day without breaking a sweat.

It is hard for most of us to imagine how difficult it must have been for this individual not to get discouraged by how much weight he had to lose — and to keep going.  My minister routinely reminds our congregation that we wlook a whole lot better in the future than we do right now.  I imagine that similar thoughts kept Oprah’s guest from giving up.

But as I watched him, I kept thinking he was responsible for more than 500 pounds being lost.  Millions of people watch Oprah each day.  And I am certain that there were veiwers sitting at home who needed to lose weight or take some other monumental action in order to live up to their potential.  Watching Oprah’s guest and hearing his story of perseverance probably inspired millions of others to challenge themselves and follow through on that challenge.

How many of Oprah’s viewers do you imagine were inspired enough to get up off the couch, face themselves in the mirror, and ask the question that can transform the world: “Why not me?”  Like them, you can begin right now doing whatever it takes to dwell in the possibility of living a more vital and fulfilling life.

Encouragement Always.