Michael Hyatt at Liberty University: Change Your Story, Change Your Life
Author, social media expert, and former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers Michael Hyatt encouraged students at Liberty University's Convocation earlier this week to silence the negative narrator in their minds that keeps them from moving forward.
Hyatt explained to the audience through Biblical and personal examples that what is thought will become belief, and will have a direct impact on your life.
"If there is one thing that I wished someone had told me as a college student is to change my story and change my life."
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Hyatt shared about his experience of becoming the Vice President of Marketing for Thomas Nelson at the age of 29. He spoke of how he allowed his mind to convince him that he was too young and inexperienced, that everyone would see that he was not qualified for the job and would soon be out on the street where he belonged. He allowed himself to be so crippled by fear that he began the physical habit of sweating profusely that he had to wear two shirts.
Although this was the pinnacle of success for him, Hyatt admitted that he talked himself out of believing that he was worthy of the position.
"What is rattling around in your head today?" he asked the audience. "Are you questioning your adequacies, skills, abilities what you have accomplished, your heritage, what you can do? If you feel this way, you are normal but that should not keep you from succeeding."
Hyatt told the story of how Moses questioned God at the burning bush about being called at 80-years-old to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. He spoke of how Moses was reluctant because he felt that he was not the correct age, in the right position, or had enough credibility to go to Pharaoh.
"God plus you is sufficient. God alone is sufficient," Hyatt reminded the audience.
Hyatt pointed out that so often we disqualify ourselves before we have the opportunity to succeed.
"If God has a call on your life to speak or write, God will supply what you need to fulfill it. Our biggest challenge is not the acquisition of the skills we need, but the courage to obey God in the moment and to do what he says regardless of how adequate we may feel."
The audience was reminded that God works everything out for the good and that they do not have to become victims of bad stories. He also challenged the audience to deconstruct the negative narrative in their heads and replace it with truth.
"There are five ways to debunk the myths in your head. (1)Recognize the voice in your head that gets you to believe a lie. (2) Jot down what the voice is saying. (3) Evaluate if the story is empowering or keeping you from moving forward. (4) Write down a different story. (5) Tell yourself the new story."
Hyatt ended his speech encouraging the audience to choose between the two stories. To choose the story that is beneficial to empowering their lives and to take the lessons from the obstacles that they face.
Michael Hyatt is the author of the New York Times best seller Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. He often speaks about "intentional leadership" with a mission to help people live with more passion, work with greater focus and lead with extraordinary influence.
