by Dr. Arlene Taveroff and Daniel K Foisy…
How many projects have you started and not finished? Do you reach a goal and find the thrill is short lived? And maybe not worth all that effort you put in?
It’s understandable. The pressure to achieve is so much a part of our culture today. The motivation for what we do invariably focuses on the outcome, the achievement, the money, or future happiness – usually something external to ourselves that we really want. Reaching our goal concentrates on perseverance, determination and discipline. Reminding ourselves of the goal and why we want it keeps us going; but too often, the journey is bittersweet.
Sound familiar? Here’s a quote that changed everything for us!
“If you do not love and honor the process, you will fail before you reach the goal. This is the tragic consequence of borrowing or stealing ideas of success or happiness from others. One may covet the outcome, but have no love for that which is necessary to create the end result.” (Glenda Green, Love Without End)
Guess what? It’s not only about the outcome, it’s about the process! Do what you love and the outcome will take care of itself.
Is there a goal in your life that you’re having trouble reaching? Here’s a process that may help.
Create your own vision.
Is it really your goal?
It’s not yours if it doesn’t come from your own heart. Make sure you’re not admiring and wanting what works for someone else and saying “me too!” Forget about everyone else. Create a vision of yourself being and doing what you love. This is not a specific goal. It’s a dream so wonderful, that it creates a magic feeling in you. See it. Feel it. Pretend you’re already there. Be it.
Follow your passion.
Do you see yourself doing what it takes to reach your vision?
Is the process of getting there something you really, really enjoy? No amount of hard work can ever substitute for the intensity that is born from passion and excitement. If you love the process of reaching your outcome, you generate joy and momentum with every step along the way. You empower yourself from the inside out.
Take action.
What are you waiting for? Start moving!
Start doing what you love, no matter how busy your schedule. Make an appointment with yourself. Take the first steps! Use your strengths. Begin building your dream. This is not about words, it’s about action. Commit to it. Find a way to do what you love to do. Let your heart propel you forward. Treat the bumps in the road as stepping stones and the parts that are out of your comfort zone as learning experiences.
It helps to have a map. You need to know where you are now and where you’re going. Are you going to take the scenic route or the direct one? Fly or walk? Alone or with buddies? Look at the big picture, then break it down into not-so-scary steps. Treat each step as a mini-goal.
If you have trouble planning out the entire detailed route for yourself in advance, don’t panic. Do as much as you can and fill in the rest later. Take the first step and trust that the next will become visible when you need it, as long as you stay aligned with what feels good and keep in mind where you’re ultimately going.
Do you need to revise or clarify?
Focus, clarify and improvise as you go along. Be open to the many opportunities and answers that will come your way if you just open your eyes, listen to your heart and tune into your intuition.
The outcome of any venture is a reflection of the journey: you reap what you sow. Follow your vision and your passion. Take action with all the excitement and energy and joy that you have in you. The outcome you desire with all your heart is yours. Do what you really love, and you will be unstoppable.
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Hi, good post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for writing. I will certainly be subscribing to your site.
Thank you so much for your your interest in our site. Positive comments put such a smile on people’s faces – and what goes around comes around! (Have you tried our ecards yet?). Your blog is great – it’s wonderful that you’re sharing what’s worked for you, so that others can benefit.
Keep in touch!
Dr. Arlene Taveroff
I really very liked this post.
Content excellent! Thank you for your wise words:)
Excellent intelligent post. Retweeting! Thanks!
Thanks so much for your comment, George. This article was written from the heart, with the same kind of passion that Gary Vaynerchuk exhibited tonight on his teleconference. The quote in this article from Love Without End about the importance of loving the process and not just coveting the outcome is one that truly changed my life!
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A wonderful post/article! It’s clear and concise and I couldn’t agree more. I encourage others to do exactly what you say yet I need to remind myself to follow my own advice. Life is truly about the process, isn’t it? I’ve always known that but needed this reminder just now in terms of work. Thank you.
I’m going to ponder more tomorrow what my next step is going to be for my own business. This article really couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Oh, and thanks for that great quote! I am definitely RT’ing this as a Must Read!
Thank you, Lisa. The quote in this article about process versus results is one that literally changed my life, and I am so delighted to be sharing that concept with people. And by the way, Glenda Green’s book Love Without End is an awesome book, filled with thought-provoking ideas and life-changing wisdom.
I so agree with this idea. I take it a step further and suggest that knowing the how isn’t possible when you first begin as you are not in the right place to know, so how can you know all of the steps required to get there. therefore, don’t let the not-knowing stop you- feel the passion and let it and the dream, the vision pull you forward. Trust that you will see the doors as they open on your way to the dream.
Great article Arlene!
Hi Kim,
Your comment gave me such relief! Figuring out how to get where I want is always a struggle for me – despite what I wrote. Your words make it really clear why this happens: I couldn’t have said it better. I see a new article coming…. And by the way, I really like how your blog, Women on Quilts, helps people in the creative arts blend together their business and their spirit.