 It
is said that, ''by small and simple things great things are brought to pass.''
Sometimes we feel that in order for great things to happen in our lives, some
dramatic event must occur. We'll raise a son who'll play for the 49ers and a
daughter who's a concert pianist. Or we'll win the lottery and pay off all our
debts. Or we'll land the perfect job that will solve all our family's money
problems.
Although it may appear that success simply falls
into some people's laps, this is rarely the case. What we don't see are the
thousands of small and simple things that a successful person or family has done
over several years or even over the course of life that built up to great
events. (And I'm not talking about buying a lottery ticket every day to win the
lottery.) So what are these small and simple things from which great things are
brought to pass?
Desire
It may seem simple, but you have to want
something before you can go after it. You have to want to go to Disney
World before you get in the car to go there. True success starts with some level
of desire for something – obedient children, improved health, or better
relationships with your family. You have to want it before you'll ever achieve
it.
Commitment
If you're ever going to arrive at your
destination, you must at some point decide to leave. You have to decide that
you're willing to do what it takes to make it happen. It is in the moment of
decision that your course is set and life begins to bring opportunities into
your path to help you achieve what you have decided to do.
Faith
Whether or not you think you have faith, everyone
does. You believe the sun will rise tomorrow. You plant a seed in hopes that it
will grow into a lovely flower or vegetable. It takes faith to raise a family in
today's uncertain world. When you send your children out the door for school in
the morning you believe they will return to you in the afternoon. Everything you
do in your life requires some degree of faith. The more faith you have, the more
you can accomplish. The more you dare to dream and believe and envision, the
more you can achieve.
Diligence
Constant movement toward your goal brings about
achievement. You must do something and keep on doing it to
accomplish anything. It takes ongoing, physical movement to accomplish anything
in life. You have to move your body into the car to go to Disney World. Your
child has to move his fingers to type that book report. You have to bend at the
waist to do those sit-ups. You have to ''keep on keeping on'' no matter what
obstacles cross your path and no matter what stands in your way. Diligence
requires patience and steadfastness.
Keep Your Eyes Open
As you commit, have faith, and diligently work
toward your objectives, opportunities arise along the way to help you reach your
goals. But, you must be open to new ideas, new possibilities, and new ways of
doing things. You must keep your eyes, ears, mind, and heart open so that when
opportunities make themselves available to you, you act on them.
Remembering
Periodically, we humans get sidetracked on roads
that aren't going where we really want to go. We stop off in some dinky town to
see the largest ball of twine and forget that we're really trying to make our
way to Disney World. We have to stop and remember where we're going. We have to
remember who we are, what we're trying to achieve. Losing focus on our ultimate
objective can cause us to risk wandering aimlessly lost on back roads and
dead-ends for so long that we never arrive at our destination.
In Summary
Success in any endeavor requires these small and
simple steps, yet many people never know that they are necessary. Too many
people decide to eat healthier for example, but never really commit to planning
a menu and buying healthy foods their family will enjoy. They're not willing to
do what it takes:
- Start with your desire.
- Commit to the project.
- Have faith that you can accomplish it and really
see yourself accomplishing it.
- Take consistent action.
- Keep your eyes open for opportunities -- expect
them to arise -- and grab them with both arms when they do.
- Occasionally review your progress and make sure
you're still on the right path. Remember who you are, why you're here, and where
you're going.
It's that simple. Here's to your success!
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