Sometimes we can be so creative as humans. Instead of having relationships we talk about how to have them. I had a bright glimpse of the obvious this morning when I was on the phone with my friend. Instead of just having a conversation we were in fact spending most of the time talking about the phone, the signal strength and the clarity. In fact we could not hear each other. I laughed and said “I’ll call you back cause this is just irritating”.
When I called back I told him that I knew this would be the subject for my Blog today. We need to live the life we want to live, not just talk about it or want for it. We must do two things. We must be clear about what we want. We must take steps to have it in our life. And so that is what today’s post is about. I call it want and wander towards it.
It is not always easy to be clear. It seems like it should be easy and it certainly is easy sometimes but often it is easier to know what we do not want than to articulate what we really want. I actually say it out loud. I ask myself, on occassion, when I am alone at home; “What do you want?”. I can do it several times during the day. As I go to the kitchen. What do I want? I want to be slim and wear nice clothing. I want a sugar fix. I want something to drink. All three of those thoughts can enter my mind. My job is to harmonize them into clarity. So I go to the fridge, I make my own drink from Ribena (sugar but I have control over it ) and sparkling water (the thirst). This way I use less calories but get sweet and bubbly at the same time. Therein lies the complete answer. When we ask ourselves the question we cannot just listen for the “right answer” we must hear our entire answer and then work to harmonize it in our lives. We must recognize the difference between gratification and success. Gratification can be instantaneous but success normally takes more time and effort.
The second part is to make sure we are taking steps to create the success in our lives. Once we have figured out what we want then we need to make sure we are working towards it not taking ourselves farther away from it. Our desire is our guide. Our desire can also provide us the energy we need to seal the deal. We need to recall our desire to provide energy to reduce our instant gratification thereby providing opportunity for longer term success. Our motivator can be our own desire. Take for example my drink creation in the above paragraph. It takes me towards my ultimate goal (get slimmer, look better in nice clothes) as well as providing for my immediate need (the sugar fix and thirst). Sometimes we answer our wants too quickly. We need to stop and think for a moment beyond the immediate desire to the longer term or strategic desire.
This is not to say we should procrastinate because that is not what I am suggesting at all. I am suggesting that we take our entire desire into consideration and act upon our whole desire not just a part of it. So today remember to ask yourself not just what do I want at this moment, but what do you want in your life. And then when you have the full answer take steps to create it in your life. Let your desire fuel your motivation and voila you are on the road to success. Remember, we do it to create the life we love to live.
