What Really Divides Us From Success

Good Morning...

At the end of each week...I stop and assess my journey...

I look back at where the week started...(my point of departure)...

and then I look down...(my current position)...

and I look outward...(to my destination)...

These 3 data points give me a pretty good idea of my progress...DUH!

Yet I often wonder if my assessment is accurate...or perhaps my optimism or pessimism has tainted my perception...

Is my progress REAL?

This is the foundational question that often leads to "Is this all worth it?"

********************************************

The Basics of Any Journey...

If the journey to success was as simple as traveling from point of departure to a destination...

...Success would be simple...and...

...This weekly assessment would be simple...

In actuality, I find it to be one of the hardest activities within my routine...

Why?

Because it is not only an assessment of progress...but one of value...it is me taking personal stock of my decisions and the value of each...it is me being critical of myself...it is about me being personally honest with myself...

I have observed...that it is easier for people to be more honest with others than they are with themselves!

That is a weird thing...but I am beginning to see it more true that not!

*********************************************

Success is an Elusive Goal!

If success were as simple a defining it...and assessing what was needed to get there...anyone who desired success would obtain it...yet...

Few achieve the success they desire!

Why?

There are as many reasons or excuses...as there are people in this world!

The answer actually lies in the previous statement...

EXCUSES!

Excuses are simply explanations for delays...failures...or quitting!

When an individual encounters a delay or a failure...they excuse it!

A successful endeavor generally contains no excuses!

When we add (or allow) excuses into our life's equation...we have opened the door...and invited FAILURE in!

I know that you are thinking...

We need understanding or explanations or answers to the question "Why did this happen?"

Understanding and excuses are not the same!

The difference between the two is subtle...but critical!

That difference can be explained in a single sentence...

An excuse carries with it the demand or expectation for forgiveness...

What?

An excuse looks for comfort...and a confirmation that "It's OK!"

It is an expectation of oneself and others to "EXCUSE" and accept the failure...

Truly successful people seek to understand the cause/effect equations...but they make NO EXCUSES for them!

Success is elusive because many (perhaps a majority of people) allow excuses into their life's equation...

Still others fail to seek true understanding for each of life's events...

In the end...it is simply that they have treated life improperly...and allowed subtle but destructive elements to travel with them on their journey!

*********************************

This Makes No Sense!

Many may think that what I am presenting is simply a matter of definitions...

Excuses are often used to explain situations...they are a surrogate for understanding...

WRONG!

Excuses include an emotional expectation ("A Free Pass")...and...

...Simple understanding doesn't...

Nature does not care!

Nature does not include emotion...

It is unrealistic to insert emotion into our journey toward success and expect it to drive us forward...

Emotion (in the form of an excuse) is wasted energy...and oftentimes,,,has a negative affect our our efforts!

Am I advocating "Excuse-Free" existence?

Yes and No!

We need to minimize the use of excuses and replace them with understanding...

Just like "Excuses" carry emotional expectations with them...True understanding also carries a subtle element...

A change in behavior!

When one understands something...it results in either a focus of activity or a ceasing of an activity!

Seek understanding...

Does this make sense?

I do agree that this is a matter of definition...

It is the understanding of those subtleties that makes all of the difference...

What is important is agreement and action!

Think about this...It is not personal, political or religious views and beliefs that cause divisions between and us...it is a matter of definition and a clarity of understanding...

******************************************

Back On Path

Life has a macabre way of using curves and "twists and turns" to straighten our path!

The truly successful people use those "twists" to gain understanding with the express purpose of avoiding them in the future!

Life will continue to throw the same things at us until we understand the real lesson it intends to teach us!

That is why we say..."History repeats itself!"

It does!

Because we make excuses and not efforts to understand and adjust!!!

As you assess your daily journey...take time to gain understanding...

...Look at where you are...

Say to yourself...

Yesterday...I was there...

Today...I am here...AND...

That is because of "X"

Some "Xs" are good and need to be repeated...

Other "Xs" are bad and need to be avoided!

In its simplest form...success on any level is a matter of understanding of today and the appropriate action tomorrow...

Yes it is a matter of definition...

It is those definitions that provide us with understanding...

Now it is a matter of doing the things that will make tomorrow better...

Pura Vida!