Welcome back.

Small changes can make a huge difference, and good habits create destiny. Without question, the potential of your life and leadership are a direct reflection of the quality of your habits.

A couple of years ago, we planted some grapevines in our yard. Today, they produce some beautiful, sweet, tasty grapes. And I learned by trial and error that if a vine is going to produce good grapes, it needs cultivation. If you leave the vines on their own, they will put all their energy into growing leaves, instead of producing fruit.

Vines tend to self-sabotage. So, in time, I learned how to prune our vines, and how to support the branches on a trellis.

In some ways, you and I are like those vines. We can self-sabotage, unless we focus on being fruitful, and developing good support systems.

In a future session, we are going to look at personal mentors and coaches. But today, lets think about establishing some trellis-like supports that can help us live the abundant life.

Originally, the word for trellis meant "rule of life"; and the purpose of a trellis is to support the plant as it grows. A trellis is simple a structure that enables the plant to receive more sunlight, enables it to stand taller, and helps it to bear more fruit.

A rule of life that we adapt is like a trellis. And the effect of a rule of life for you and me is that we will become more fruitful. And in time, that rule of life will not feel like "Oh, I must do that", but "I'm glad I do that."

Dignity motivates people to do the things that support personal growth and increase our meaning. A lack of dignity often results in an unexamined life, and habits that sabotage.

In the story of Ruth, we see the example of someone who practiced the good rule of life habits; and as a result, she stopped being a victim, and realized the meaning and significance of her life.

Now, what rules of life have you consciously formed? Are there some trellis-like things you know you should do which would help you to lead on to live? Let me give you three trellises that will work for everyone:

Trellis number one: Exercise. If you want to feel better, feel more energetic, and even add years to your life, exercise. It is foolish to ignore the many benefits of regular exercise. Don't underestimate its value. Regardless of your age, gender, physical ability, the exercise you do will benefit you.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are seven significant reasons you should exercise: it influences weight, combats health conditions, improves moods, boosts energy, promotes better sleep, rejuvenates sex life, and enables enjoyable social interaction.

And for some reason we don't know, the exercise we do tends to cause us to use our credit cards less.

So, do you need any more persuading to exercise? Put up that trellis--exercise.

Number two: Nutrition. Providing your body with the right fuel is more important than you realize. We've all heard the truism, "You are what you eat." A diet of protein and carbohydrates that does not contain an abundance of sugars and fats and artificial ingredients will set you up to function at your very best. And diets that contain empty calories leave us without energy, and we are less able to face the challenges of our lives.

So proper diet will lead to improved health, better memory, healthier teeth and bones, better digestion. It will affect our moods; it will inhibit strokes and cardiovascular disease; it will manage diabetes; it will reduce the risk of cancer; and it will even enhance sleep. So, good nutrition is worth every effort you make for it.

The third trellis: Sleep. Sleep deprivation has long been used as torture. A lack of sleep can damage your health, and good sleep is as essential to your health and well-being as nutrition or exercise.

I am surprised at how many people seriously consider sleep deprivation as an issue. Did you know that poor sleep is linked to higher body weight, higher calorie consumption, lower concentration, and decreased immunity? And, it will reduce your physical performance. Sleeplessness increases the risk of disease; it affects your metabolism, and initiates the onset of Type 2 diabetes. It's often linked to depression; it downgrades your immune function; it influences a long-term inflammation of the digestive tract; and it promotes cell-dying. Do I need to say more? Get some sleep.

So, we looked at three trellises. There are many others that you might want to consider, but let me suggest a few others that are critical:

Do you have a financial trellis? What about a spiritual trellis? How about an educational trellis? Do you have a recreational trellis? What about a relational trellis?