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.
By Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn, was an American entrepreneur, author
and motivational speaker.
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