The difference between one man and another is not mere ability … it is energy. Thomas Arnold
How often have we come across people who by all accounts would have been voted ‘ least likely to succeed ‘when in school, but who today are the envy of those very same classmates. In all probability, these people when in school were academically not inclined, perennially involved in a variety of mischief and were possibly hyperactive too. After bumbling through academics they may have stumbled upon some opportunity and suddenly discovered their own interest and abilities aligning in this opportunity. This backed up by their never ending flow of energy now channeled and directed towards results would have set them up for success. It is also possible that the person voted most likely to succeed has also had a similar good run and have attained the pinnacle of success in their own filed.
If one were to study these individuals carefully, they would perhaps note that they are as different as chalk and cheese, except for the one vital quality which both display in ample measure- enthusiasm and energy. It is this vital quality that distinguishes those who excel and succeed in life from those who have more than enough potential but fail to realize it. The question that many people ask is how can anyone have so much energy and enthusiasm? They are also keen to know one can continuously generate such high levels of energy? How does one recharge when one feels low and dispirited especially when one faces a setback? The unfortunate reality is that there are no magic pills or portions that can boost your energy but the good news is that with some effort, practice and patience each one of you can see the energy flow within you and translate into success.
The most important requirement to build up enthusiasm and energy is developing a positive attitude. This by and large is a mind game where the challenge is to see any problem as an opportunity. It is not easy because a problem worries us, it saps our energy, it sometimes forces us to retreat and that we look upon as a defeat and worse of all many problems seem insurmountable. A positive attitude simply seeks the small eye of a needle in the problem through which one can thread the string of persistence and sew our success story. Notice that almost heroes in history or mythology are characters who have never let their failures dampen their conviction nor let it distract them from their goal. Everyone of them achieved success by overcoming terrible odds by being positive about the outcome and believing in themselves. This brings us to the next quality self belief. Unless a person has the inner conviction that he/ she is capable, they would simply surrender to any force that seems threatening. Self belief emits from sound knowledge, daring, confidence and clarity of goals. A good part of self belief is scripted in childhood by the encouragement of parents, teachers and friends. A large part comes from early successes and the rest comes from having a brave heart.
The final ingredient that if available in ample measure escalates the energy and enthusiasm is motivation. At the heart of motivation is the inner urge to achieve. Notice that even the most non- descript individual would love to achieve success in some form, even if it be as simple as not ending up last. For the high achievers it is not just proving their mettle but doing something different and unique. There are variants to motivation like lure of financial rewards or fame and recognition being the driving force. Other drivers of motivation could include a sense of achievement, a sense of having power or the need to be popular and liked. Whatever the inducement, one has to have the thrust of motivation to boost ones energy and generate enthusiasm so as to ensure we are self driven successful individuals.
Remember: “When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.” W. Clement Stone
Try this:
- Ask yourself if you suffer from Monday morning blues where you get up every Monday morning with a scowl and disgust that a whole week lays ahead. Do you suffer from frequently being the victim of negative self fulfilling prophesies? Eg. You lobby hard for a contract and no sooner you get it, your mind is filled with thoughts of the consequences of not executing the contract properly on time. Subsequently you end up fouling up the job and get dispirited and possibly fatalistic too.
- Jot down 3 of the most frequently overheard complaints/ negative feedback about yourself. Now if you really believe that there is a problem find 3 motivators that will help you focus on overcoming your weakness. If you are convinced that the feedback is wrong, how will you ensure that the misconception is removed in the eyes of your critics?
This post is courtesy www.actspot.com
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