Success doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with how brilliant you are in a given field. It has much more to do with your passion and your purpose. Average people accomplish extraordinary things every single day. They are able to do it, because they put in above-average effort.
Do you want to win this game, or are you just along for the ride? There is nothing standing in the way of you achieving success except you. If you really want this, then put in the effort. You can’t fake passion or purpose in life. Most people do not stumble into success through halfhearted efforts. They put everything they have into their dreams, because they believe they were meant to win. They are single-minded about their goals, and they believe without a doubt that they must be achieved.
Have you found something you are passionate about yet, or did you get bored and stop looking for it? If you have not done so, now is the time to find that one thing that really fires you up and makes you want to put forth a herculean effort. It is so much easier to achieve success when you believe strongly in what you are doing. It is also the healthiest way to compete. When you feel that you have a true purpose in what you are doing, you will be willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Find that special purpose in your life today. If you have discovered your passion, then plot out ways that you can put an above-average effort into following it.
142
What’s the difference between a purpose and a wish? Write down your own definition of each in your journal before you read further.
Everyone has wishes. You might wish you were taller . . . or shorter. Maybe you wish you could sing. You might even wish you had something nicer to wear to a party you plan to attend this evening. Wishes are often dreams that will not come true without divine intervention or a fairy godmother. They are things that you want, but you don’t have the power to get on your own. There is very little chance that you can make your own wish come true. You might have the power to make someone else’s wish come true, but not your own.
A purpose is different. If you have a purpose, you are going to make it happen. You have a clear goal, and you’re drawn to it like a magnet. There is power in purpose. You follow your purpose in life, because it’s what you were meant to do. It’s your destiny. You are compelled to accomplish it. Wishes don’t have that kind of power.
Turn to a new page in your journal and make two columns. In one column write your purposes. What are you compelled or destined to do? In the other column write your wishes. These are the things you wish for on a star. Once you’ve finished, you can rip off the wishes side and throw it away. It’s fun to think about your wishes, but you personally can’t do much about them. Concentrate on your purposes. Focus in on them and direct all your talents to achieving those goals. You have the power to do it.
143
You had an opportunity to think about spirit on Day 124 when you were studying the advantages of sports training. Today you will look at how it can add strength to other areas of your life.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947 when he took his position at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the first African-American to play for major league baseball. That in itself was a success, but Jackie Robinson had to prove that he had staying power. His spirit in the face of hate mail, death threats, and physical violence was a testament to the passion and the purpose he possessed. He paved the road for change and showed an entire country how to move toward integration and understanding.
Jackie Robinson knew his purpose. He never fought back when he was hit with pitches or insults. Instead, he let his spirit shine. He played in 151 out of 154 games, batted .297, and stole twice as many bases as any other player in the league. Jackie Robinson became the major league’s first Rookie of the Year.
How did he accomplish so much when so many people wanted to see him fail? He had spirit on his side. He didn’t need to use brawn. He had no use for ugly words and fighting. He had a purpose and a passion for baseball. Jackie Robinson knew he had a right to play in the major leagues, and he proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt in his very first year. How can you follow his lead and use your spirit instead of brawn to accomplish great things?
