THE FOUR EMOTIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO LIFE CHANGE
BY : JIM ROHN
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, however, 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.