Emotions
are the most powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions,
human beings can perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts. To
a great degree, civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent
channeling of human emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the
pilot, which together propel the ship of civilized progress. Which
emotions cause people to act? There are four basic ones; each, or a
combination of several, can trigger the most incredible activity. The
day that you allow these emotions to fuel your desire is the day you'll
turn your life around.
1) DISGUST
One does not usually equate the word "disgust" with positive action.
And yet properly channeled, disgust can change a person's life. The
person who feels disgusted has reached a point of no return. He or she
is ready to throw down the gauntlet at life and say, "I've had it!"
That's what I said after many humiliating experiences at age 25, I
said. "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being
broke. I've had it with being embarrassed, and I've had it with lying."
Yes, productive feelings of disgust come when a person says, "Enough is enough."
The
"guy" has finally had it with mediocrity. He's had it with those awful
sick feelings of fear, pain and humiliation. He then decides he is not
going to live like this anymore." Look out! This could be the day that
turns a life around. Call it what you will, the "I've had it" day, the
"never again" day, the "enough's enough" day. Whatever you call it,
it's powerful! There is nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching
disgust!
2) DECISION
Most of us need to be pushed to the wall to make decisions. And once we
reach this point, we have to deal with the conflicting emotions that
come with making them. We have reached a fork in the road. Now this
fork can be a two-prong, three-prong, or even a four-prong fork. No
wonder that decision-making can create knots in stomachs, keep us awake
in the middle of the night, or make us break out in a cold sweat.
Making
life-changing decisions can be likened to internal civil war.
Conflicting armies of emotions, each with its own arsenal of reasons,
battle each other for supremacy of our minds. And our resulting
decisions, whether bold or timid, well thought out or impulsive, can
either set the course of action or blind it. I don't have much advice
to give you about decision-making except this:
Whatever
you do, don't camp at the fork in the road. Decide. It's far better to
make a wrong decision than to not make one at all. Each of us must
confront our emotional turmoil and sort out our feelings.
3) DESIRE
How does one gain desire? I don't think I can answer this directly
because there are many ways. But I do know two things about desire:
a. It comes from the inside not the outside.
b. It can be triggered by outside forces.
Almost
anything can trigger desire. It's a matter of timing as much as
preparation. It might be a song that tugs at the heart. It might be a
memorable sermon. It might be a movie, a conversation with a friend, a
confrontation with the enemy, or a bitter experience.
Even a book or an article such as this one can trigger the inner mechanism that will make some people say, "I want it now!"
Therefore,
while searching for your "hot button" of pure, raw desire, welcome into
your life each positive experience. Don't erect a wall to protect you
from experiencing life. The same wall that keeps out your
disappointment also keeps out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So
let life touch you. The next touch could be the one that turns your
life around.
4) RESOLVE
Resolve says, "I will." These two words are among the most potent in
the English language. I WILL. Benjamin Disraeli, the great British
statesman, once said, "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake
even its existence on the extent of its purpose." In other words, when
someone resolves to "do or die," nothing can stop him.
The
mountain climber says, "I will climb the mountain. They've told me it's
too high, it's too far, it's too steep, it's too rocky, it's too
difficult. But it's my mountain. I will climb it. You'll soon see me
waving from the top or you'll never see me, because unless I reach the
peak, I'm not coming back." Who can argue with such resolve?
When
confronted with such iron-will determination, I can see Time, Fate and
Circumstance calling a hasty conference and deciding, "We might as well
let him have his dream. He's said he's going to get there or die
trying."
The best
definition for "resolve" I've ever heard came from a schoolgirl in
Foster City, California. As is my custom, I was lecturing about success
to a group of bright kids at a junior high school. I asked, "Who can
tell me what "resolve" means?" Several hands went up, and I did get
some pretty good definitions. But the last was the best. A shy girl
from the back of the room got up and said with quiet intensity, "I
think resolve means promising yourself you will never give up." That's
it! That's the best definition I've ever heard:
PROMISE YOURSELF YOU'LL
NEVER GIVE UP.
Think
about it! How long should a baby try to learn how to walk? How long
would you give the average baby before you say, "That's it, you've had
your chance"? You say that's crazy? Of course it is. Any mother would
say, "My baby is going to keep trying until he learns how to walk!" No
wonder everyone walks.
There
is a vital lesson in this. Ask yourself, "How long am I going to work
to make my dreams come true?" I suggest you answer, "As long as it
takes." That's what these four emotions are all about.
