By: Roshawn Watson
The proof of desire is pursuit!
Don’t tell me what you want. Show me what you want. Your
actions will reveal your true desires. We all
know people who talk about becoming debt-free, losing weight, going back to
school, or building a business. In fact, they may mention it repeatedly, yet their actions don’t reflect their stated
goals. Often this misalignment is because we are used to discussing what we
think we should want rather than what we
really want. I’m convinced a strong desire
towards high
goals is a phenomenal way elevate your performance. Here are 3
reasons to cultivate your true desires.
Desire Determines your Longevity
Persistence is often not the product of energy but
rather a representation of your passion. Passionate people can
endure tremendous pain, failure, embarrassment, and scorn. It was passion that
drove Thomas Edison to complete ~1,000 failed experiments before he performed
one that worked. When discussing his “failed” experiment, he commented that he
didn’t fail 1000 times; rather he just proved that those 1000 ways did not work.
Likewise, it was passion to prove the skeptics wrong that caused Roger
Bannister to run a mile in less than 4 minutes when doing so
was considered unreachable and
even dangerous by physiologists
at the time. Passion will cause you to persist in a worthy
endeavor, even when the experts doom your effort to failure.
Ironically, what is particularly precarious
is to not have a strong desire for your work,
goals, or dreams, according to Jerry Porras. This is because for every person
who is pursuing something half-heartedly, there is someone else who loves what
that other person is half-hearted about. The person who has passion will work
harder and longer and will ultimately run circles around the those lacking the
same enthusiasm and dedication. Passion is a competitive imperative.
“Only by loving what you do will you actually do more and do it better than the person sitting next to you.” - Larry Bossidy
When you face adversity upon attempting your dreams and goals,
what is your position?
I’m convinced that if your desire is worth emptying yourself
into, it is also worth persevering through adversity to attain. All too often,
progress is stagnated over slight hick-ups. Rather than coming up with creative
solutions, the obstacles serve as the perfect excuses for meandering and for
being unproductive. There’s nothing wrong with changing course if you are
convinced a different path will get you to your objective. However, if you are
constantly wiped out when it is time to work and pursue your dreams, then
perhaps it is time to question whether your “pursuits” truly inspire you.
The only place where you find success before work is in the dictionary.” - Mary V. Smith
Desire Determines your Persuasion
You can do things that appear beneficial and may give you temporary advancement or movement along your path, but unless it’s something you really believe in, it’s not going to, in the long run, succeed. - Senator John McCain
You can never rise above your persuasion. When you describe
what you are attempting, what do you hear? Are you apologetic? If so, it is
perfectly possible that you don’t believe your goal has much merit or aren’t
persuaded that YOU should be pursuing it.
When you describe your goal, do you sound excited or terse?
Again, what you hear when you describe your desires is a portrait of your
passion. Passion is an intense desire, and passionate people have enthusiasm for
their dreams. When they speak, they are often animated and engaging. Moreover,
they are inspiring. In Tribes, Seth Godin
argued that not only are leaders charismatic, but they also transform “the
shared interest (of their tribe) into a passionate goal
and desire for change.”
It’s what you are persuaded about that you will sacrifice for.
It’s what you are convinced of that you will share with others.
Abraham Lincoln stated that “if I am wrong, 10,000 angels
telling me that I am right won’t change me, and if I am right, then 10,000
demons telling me that I am wrong won’t change things.”
Desire Determines Your Hunger
When you see a child playing with his or her food, you know he
or she isn’t particularly hungry. Are you similarly dabbling in your dream?
Achievers recognize the importance of staying in the center of their passions.
If your dream isn’t exciting enough to attract your attention, maintain your
attention, and warrant your continual focus, then perhaps you should ask
yourself why.
Lately, I have had a renewed focus to stay in the center of my
passions. This often means I will turn down a lot of opportunities. They don’t
deserve my attention, not because they are not worthy endeavors but because they
don’t excite and inspire me.
Similarly, there are many valid causes that may not qualify
for your focus. A primary challenge for the
achiever is distinguishing between what others can do and what he alone can do.
It’s hunger for that calling that drives you to excellence when mediocrity is so
pervasive. It’s hunger that eliminates the unnecessary appointments to make time
for YOUR true priorities. It’s hunger that inspires you to LIVE. In fact, I
agree with author John Maxwell: dreams are at the center of our
souls.
Most men die from the neck up at age twenty-five because they stop dreaming. - Benjamin Franklin
Closing Thoughts
Porras Principle: “Don’t believe in words-only believe in
behaviors.” - Jerry Porras
Don’t think for one moment that it stops with setting goals.
Setting the goal is merely the beginning, but passion and action are needed for
manifestation. I hope that you are inspired to take the next step. Achievers do
not have a disconnect between their words and their actions. Resolve to not
waste another moment on goals undeserving of your passion. Resolve to advance
from simply goal-setting and take ground also. Find what dreams you desire, and
pursue them today!
“Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside of us while we live.” Norman Cousins
Lastly, if you like this article, please subscribe to my FREE email updates or RSS feed (reader), Retweet it, Like It on Facebook, Tipd it, Fark it, Stumble it, and tag it on Delicious. Also, click here to receive my eBook for FREE.
Related Posts
