”Discipline is
the bridge between goals and accomplishments.”
~ Jim Rohn
Good
Morning!
This quote speaks
to a problem that many of us face – while we
desire a specific result, a foreboding gap may stand between our goal
and our
accomplishment.
Over the years,
I have met many women who will chalk this up
to “lack of willpower” or “lack of self-discipline.”
I prefer to take a more positive approach –
it is called “growth.”
Imagine for a
moment a child in kindergarten. That child decides he wants
to be President
of the United States. That probably
happens hundreds of times around the country each day – a child
proclaiming
their intent to run the country. Yet
this child id different: He wants to
accomplish that goal next month.
Well…a month
comes, and a month goes. You
might have already guessed how this story
ends: He doesn’t become president in those thirty days.
Why do you think that is?
Would it be chalked up to lack of
self-discipline or will power? Of
course,
not. However, it
could be attributed to
growth and process. Every
goal and
desire is a growth and a process – a journey.
We live in an
instant-gratification society. We have figured out how to
have food now versus cooking
it (drive-thru), we can
have information now (via the
internet) instead of researching or going to a library. We
can book trips around the world now rather than
going to a travel
agency. We can communicate in written
form now (through email)
versus
hand-written letters. Somehow, many of us feel we should thus be able
to accomplish
our goals and change right now.
Until we find a
way to order our favorite goal, pre-done, and
delivered at the local drive-thru, let us remember that it is a process
of many
steps. It is not a matter of
self-discipline or willpower, but a matter of focus, daily action, and
time.
Your Turn: Where have
you been belittling yourself for not “getting more done,” or not have
“self-discipline”
or the “required willpower” to achieve your goals? Consider
that goals and desires are a
journey, and the place you are now is one required step on
that path.
Today’s Affirmation: I
cherish the journey.
