Dedicated efforts at applying the
principles of success oftentimes leaves
many people dissatisfied and frustrated
as betterment mysteriously continues
to elude them. There are plenty of people
striving for self-improvement who, in
their minds, are doing all of what they
believe they should be doing to accomplish
their goals, but considering all
their efforts they are still falling short of
their expectations.
Many business-minded, money-motivated
people read all the right
books, listen to scores of motivational
self-help audiotapes, attend several
seminars each year, record their goals
into daily journals morning and night,
recite positive affirmations at specifically
scheduled times, pray, meditate,
and even tithe and donate money to
charities.
In fitness, there are countless people
who strive for improved health and
body shape by asserting themselves to
better-body principles like monitoring
food consumption, making conscious
efforts to read labels when purchasing
groceries, special ordering when eating
out, and even placing a great deal of
hope, and money, on nutritional or
weight-loss products. Exercising is now
a part of weekly agendas. Millions have
purchased home exercise equipment
while others join health clubs, hire personal
trainers, or even compete in an
occasional 5K race. But still, results are
only realized in the “other” guy.
All of these principles — individually
or in combination with each other —
are, in fact, “actions” or exercises that
promote self-improvement. However, if
someone complies with these principles
but their efforts don’t pay off as
promised, or expected, what is the
cause? And, why do “other” people,
who perform the same actions, achieve
results?
In studying the habits of people —
why they succeed or fail either personally
or professionally — I’ve discovered
that successful outcomes result from a
“want to” motive opposed to a “have
to” viewpoint. The psychology of both,
“have” and “want,” are polar opposites
with very predictable consequences.
People whose actions are fueled with
a “have to” attitude do so mostly
because somebody else is demanding
them to or they’ve been backed into a
corner and have no other choice. A
couple of “have to” examples: “My doctor
told me that I have to lose weight
otherwise serious medical complications
are in my foreseeable future,” or “I
have to spend time with my kids
because when they grow up they’ll think
I was a bad parent.” However, consider
these comparisons of shifting from a
“have to” to “want to” mentality: “I want
to lose weight so I can be healthier and
more productive for my family and business,”
or “I always want to rush home
from work as it inspires me to see my
kids growing up each day.”
What initiates and sustains action is
thought. And to produce successful
results in any area of life, those initiating
and sustaining thoughts must be motivated
from a “want to” attitude, which is
a characteristic relative of passion.
Those who endure the process of getting
back into shape or losing fat, or
those striving to build a business and
generate more income, with a “have to”
attitude struggle arduously while any
achievement is often temporary due to
lack of a sustaining successful motive.
A “have to” motive is more of an obligation
to some other will or desire, but
certainly not that of the beholder.
You must learn to enjoy the process.
The journey might be long with some
bumps along the way. But, learn to love
it anyway, and find pleasure in your ability
to do what so many others have
done — become successful in spite of
the obstacles. This can only be accomplished
when you “want to” do what’s
necessary to attain and sustain your
goals. When you enjoy the process you
send powerful signals throughout your
entire being providing you with the
energy, strength, endurance, courage,
and confidence you need to succeed
and remain successful. Champions in
sports and business enjoy the process
and literally enjoy the struggle; a good
sweat is always healthy. When all
actions are fueled with the proper mental
energy success is not only possible,
it’s inevitable.
