Strength of Purpose Defeats Avoidance

byLee Gamelin

830 followers

11 years ago

I realize and recognize that sometimes it's hard to keep your eyes on your targets, especially if it means doing something of which you're not that fond. I read something today that speaks again to what makes some people successful and other not that I want to share with you.

The piece is titled: "Strength of Purpose Defeats Avoidance." It was written by the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey who wrote a book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, named the most influential business book of the 20th century and the principles apply to most any situation.

"As I think of the struggles many people go through, I am reminded of a powerful quote by Albert E.N. Gray: 'The successful person has the habit of doing things failures don't like to do. They don't like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.'

If you are someone who has to make important changes in your life, you may want to ponder on this idea. What are the things you know you have to do but are avoiding? If you were to discipline yourself and create a plan for doing those things, would you find positive, even breakthrough rewards?

Identify something you are voiding and make a promise that you will do it. Make a promise and keep it. Subordinate the things you dislike doing to your greater purpose. The more you do this, the more strength you will build - and the more success you will find."