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want to spend your life, is it? Then you have to put it in gear and step on the gas. You can’t sit around and wait for someone else to decide what you should do. You have to make a decision, and more importantly, you have to
act
on it.
    That’s what Nike is talking about when its advertisements say, “Just do it!” If you need a little higher source, consider the Bible, which says that having faith means nothing unless you act on it. Yes, actions really do speak louder than words. It’s good to have dreams, but you’ll never claim the life you want until you get out of bed and go after them.
    How does this help you deal with bullies? Well, what’s easier to hit, a sitting duck or a rabbit on the run? If bullies are looking for someone to hit, their last choice will be a moving target, someone who has it in gear with the pedal to the metal on the road to a better life.
    Step 5: Check the Mirror and the GPS
    When I was young and dealing with bullies on a regular basis, I noticed that once I began to feel better about myself, bullies had a lot less power over me. I felt better about myself when Istuck to my beliefs and acted accordingly. I stopped cursing. I didn’t pretend to be a tough guy. I talked openly about my faith. When I looked in the mirror, I saw a guy who was doing all he could to be the best Nick he could be.
    Once I began to feel better about myself, bullies had a lot less power over me.
    That’s what I want for you, except for the Nick part of course. I want you to be able to look in the mirror every day and feel like you are doing your best to honor your gifts and blessings. I don’t expect you to be perfect. We all have ups and downs. Sometimes we get off track. That’s okay as long as you take the time to look in the mirror and admit that you can do better and be better. You can cut yourself some slack, but be honest with yourself too. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’ve picked up some bad habits or if you are hanging out with people who don’t bring out the best in you.
    You should also check your personal GPS on a regular basis to make sure you are on track to becoming the person you want to be and creating the life you want to live. Sometimes you may have to take a detour. You may get lost for a while and have to find your way back. To stay on track, you’ll need to check every now and then to see if where you’re headed is the right directionfor you. The worst thing you could do is just wander aimlessly or follow someone whose goals and dreams are different than yours.
    The mirror doesn’t lie. Neither does your personal GPS. If you find yourself making excuses, acting sketchy, or doing self-destructive things, then you’ll know it’s time to find your way back to the right road.
    God cared enough to breathe life into you and put you on this earth. You need to take care of His creation and honor that precious gift.
    Nick’s Notes for Chapter Three
    Self-love and self-confidence come to you when you accept responsibility for your own happiness and success.
    You have the power to choose a positive response even when you encounter negative feelings and experiences like bullying. It’s like a superpower, so use it to make yourself bully proof!

My grandparents experienced one of the most extreme forms of bullying in their native country of Yugoslavia. During World War II, they were persecuted for their Christian faith by the Communist regime. Hundreds of thousands of their fellow Serbians were murdered, expelled, or imprisoned. My grandparents and other Christians had to conduct religious services in secret and under guard because they feared being arrested or killed for their faith.
    After years of persecution, they fled their native land and moved to Australia, which is where my parents grew up, met, married, and brought me and my brother and sister into the world. You could say that bullying has had a huge impact on my family’s history and my life.
    It may seem strange, but