This is The Day – Tim Tebow

Reclaim Your Dream. Ignite Your Passion. Live Your Purpose.

Book Synopsis – Beyond Tim Tebow’s exploits as a Heisman-winning football player, he is widely known and respected for his exemplary character and personal excellence, which have made him a role model for millions. When Tim interacts with the public, he often encounters people who feel “stuck”–unable to take action on matters ranging from daily life to pursuing lifelong dreams. In response, Tim often identifies a crippling fear or lack of courage, to which he advises: “now is the time to take some risks, to quiet the voices of defeat, to step forward and make a mark, because this is the day.” In this inspiring, motivational book, readers will receive the advice and encouragement to daily move from “pause” to “play” in finding deeper meaning and success. Tim illustrates the book’s themes with stories from his personal life that will delight all readers, including his an update on his dream pursuit of a baseball career.

Book Review – Tim Tebows book came at a great time for me. It helped me see life in the right perspective. He recounts many stories of all the beautiful people he’s encountered through his foundation and how their lives keep his life in perspective. He gives many stories of how he’s taken the opportunity to love on people wherever he goes. It’s a book that reminds you that it’s all about loving God and spreading his love by loving people.

The book makes you want to work hard but with purpose. All that we do should lead back to loving God and loving people. Highly recommended book if you are losing proper perspective in life. This book will shift the way you see life and remind you why we exist. Also, I really appreciated Tim’s joyful and positive view on life. He gives personal stories of “failures” and how he’s seen them in light of being a child of God.

Rating (1-10) – 9

Notes:

Chapter 1 – Say ” I Love You”

Tim recounts his experience on a plane where he consoled a woman whose husband went into cardiac arrest. He reminds us that life is short and that life is a gift and we never know when tragedy can strike.

As I read this story, I’m sobbing. It helps me put life into perspective. We strive and struggle so much that we miss what life is about. I don’t want to get caught up in the the striving that I simply miss life itself.

The most precious thing about life is people. Intentionally spend time with family and friends. People won’t be with us forever. Spend time with them. Make memories together. One day our parents won’t be with us. Even if they annoy us, we’ll wish just for one more day with them.

Chapter 2 – Get in the Game

Tim talks about his journey from not getting any quarterback gigs to going to Minor League Baseball. He decided to follow his passion for playing baseball even though it seemed crazy to everyone else.

Chapter 3 – Leave the Past Behind

“Don’t be a problem finder. Be a problem solver.”

“He will use for the good our failures, our mistakes, our detours, and our U-turns, just like He will use our successes.”

“I learned a long time ago to take things one day at a time. I have to focus on today and then when tomorrow comes, that day.”

“Do your best to clear your own mechanism. Stop Breath. Pray. Remind yourself that God doesn’t judge you by your past. Nor should you. Remember what will help you right now. Questioning yourself will not have any benefit in the present. Nor will the crippling emotion of doubt, fear, or frustration.”

“Focus on what will make you better in this moment. Then take the next step. And the next. And the next. Do this and you start to change your mindset. You start to change your outlook. And through these day-by-day, step-by-step changes, you’ll find you are starting to become your best you.”

Tim talks about a time a reporter asked him if he regrets not going into baseball directly. Tim’s response was that he doesn’t look back on regret. He goes back to the truth that everything happens for a reason and that God has his life already planned out before he was born.

“When you keep wondering what could have been or what you should have done differently, here’s what happens: you miss the present moment and cripple your potential in the future.”

“… I want to challenge you to move forward. While you can’t change the fact that you failed, here’s what you can do. Admit that it happened. Then learn from it. Finally, be ready in the now Don’t waste time and energy worrying that you’ll repeat the same mistake. Lock in. Concentrate on where you are in this moment. And make it your best.

Chapter 4 – Listen to the Right Voice

God made me wonderfully complex and marvelous (Psalm 139:14)
I am a child of God (See Gatlations 3:26)
I am God’s masterpiece. (See Ephesians 2:10)
God’s hand is always on me. (See Psalm 139:5)
As a child of God, I am a special treasure. (See Exodus 19:5)
God loves me with an unfailing love (See Jeremiah 31:3)
I am chosen by God. (See 1 Thessalonians 1:4)

Chapter 5 – Believe in What Really Matters

Tim has a foundation that hosts proms for disabled kids. He was at a grocery store and met an autistic kid who was with his mom at the store. The mom burst into tears as she recognized that he was one the one that hosted the event for the kids. It reminded Tim of what really matters in life, people. Everything we do is to love God and love people.

I burst into tears because it reminded me what matters. Money should be used to glorify God by loving people.

“But when they were called by God, they stepped out in faith. And despite their insecurities, they believed more in what God could do through them than in what they were capable of on their own.”

Chapter 6 – Say Yes

I keep crying after reading each chapter. This book does such an incredible job and reminding me what matters in life. It’s loving people. Tim pursues his dreams with conviction but he doesn’t put it above people. He keeps his priorities in the right order. I want to love on people as well as Tebow does.

Chapter 7 – Put in the Work

“The comfort zone is one of the greatest enemies of human potential. When people get into a comfort zone, they strive to stay in that comfort zone…You need the courage to continually move yourself in the direction of your biggest goals and ambitions. You need to be willing to face discomfort in order for you to grow.” – Brian Tracy

“Make up your mind to do whatever is before you as best as you can. Focus on these priorities, and don’t get anxious about the results. You don’t have to reach your goal or dream overnight. Actually, you probably won’t.”

“Are you willing to do the work — and endure?”

Chapter 8 – Open Your Eyes

Open your eyes and see the need around you. It’s so easy to get caught up in our own world that we forget their are people that just need to be loved.

Chapter 9 – Live with Open Hands

“We can focus only on today. Right now. This moment.”

Chapter 10 – Flip the Script

Be yourself. Don’t feel like you have to pretend to be someone else to get someone to like you.

This part is very timely. I just quit my job because I disliked what I did and my bosses didn’t care about people.

“I know so many people who hate their jobs. Most of them tell me they would rather stay where they are, hating every minute of it, just because they fear losing financial security or letting their families down. These are legitimate concerns.” “..What’s most important is living a life of purpose, meaning, and significance — something that’s possible even if you’re not thrilled with what happens between the hours you clock in and clock out.”

Don’t be afraid to pursue your passions because of the fear of failure. God is with you. Even if you fail or things don’t work out as you expected, God is still God and uses everything for good.

Chapter 11 – Go Back to the Well

When you feel like you’re losing confidence, go back to remembering who you are in Christ.

“As followers of Jesus, we are called God’s children (see John 1:12). We are sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe, the King of kings, the Lord of lords. That’s pretty amazing — and pretty impressive!”

“Know your title. And never forget it. When you don’t feel you are enough, understand that you can conquer self-doubt by knowing who you are in Jesus. This is truth. And this is life changing, not just for you, but for others.”

“Going back to the well is important to do, not just in sports but in life. Our faith in what God says about us transcends everything we do, on and off the field. So when we’re feeling down or tired or unmotivated, we can trust that God has us where we are for a reason, even when things aren’t going great.”

It’s all about perspective. When things might not be going your way, others could be dealing with much worse things that could alter their lives. Making a difference in peoples lives is what matters. Giving hope. Loving on people.

Chapter 12 – Make It Count

“Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people He has made?” – Francis Chan

“For Christians, the world is not our home. Ultimately, we belong with God in His heavenly kingdom. This place on earth is temporary. I do believe we get glimpses of our home with God when we are aligned with His promises and purpose for our lives. When we are living for Jesus, when we are serving Him without God-given gifts, talents, and abilities, when we are investing people, when we are thinking of others more than ourselves, when we are changing lives, one at a time, we get a sense of our true home in God.”