Determination

We have all heard the saying “sheer determination”. It is normally used to describe the “will power” or “strength of character” needed to achieve a goal by drawing on the desire to achieve and overcome rather than by outside assistance. It is most likely accompanied by a struggle of some sort to get to the desire goal or outcome.

I recently had an opportunity to witness determination first hand and although the desired “goal” may be years away, it is inspiring to see someone hop on the path that they were created to be on. After all, determination as a word may be a noun, but it takes a verb to set it in motion…ACTION! 

I was having a general conversation with a wonderful young man about the obstacles that block paths to becoming want you want in life. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have a direct, uneventful path to achieving our goals. There will be doors that close and it is our job to look for other doors that will open and if all else fails, we need to look for open windows. I suppose that is why we can refer to some opportunities as “windows of opportunity”!  As cliché as it is, I truly believe that there is a reason for everything.  Our frustration stems from not understanding those reasons at specific times, but I know that circumstances arise to guide us along the path that we should be on and even better outcomes can come from what we first thought were insurmountable obstacles.

As I was speaking to this young man, we were talking about how these “blockages” in life sometimes cause people to freeze and give up on their dreams. What a shame! You cannot wallow in self-pity and get stuck on the “life’s not fair” band wagon. There will always be people in life that will seem to get a “free ride” and breeze on through with little resistance. There will always be people that have the financial means to continue on their dream path and have broader options because they can afford it. There will always be people that get assistance more easily because of their status. Whether fair or not, you cannot worry about what the “other people” are doing to get where they are going. They are living their plan and you must live your plan. I explained to him that the only difference between him and anybody else was “SHEER DETERMINATION”.  It was all about finding that will and drive that dwells within your soul to become what the Lord put you on this earth to do! When you have that “knowing” or voice that screams to your soul, then there will always be a path open to get you to where you need to be to achieve the desired outcome…know matter how wavy that path may be. For it is on that path that life will reap the lessons you need to learn to get to the goal! It is with THAT determination that you will be able to fix your intentions and make it to the finish line.  We are given an amazing gift of free will and by the choices we make we can create our own path and live the dream and fulfill the destiny.

I witnessed that sheer determination as this young man was faced with many closed doors and yet still had this burning in his spirit to find a way to turn his dreams into a reality. The secret was that he took the first step and realized that even though the path  changed, the dream still lives! He was not frozen in fear or pity, he put one foot in front of the other, gathered the information he needed, talked to the people he needed to talk to, followed the steps he had to take and with SHEER  DETERMINATION, found an open window of opportunity and hopped on through!

Remember to allow determination to be your motivation and where there is a will, there is a way!

P.S.  I am so proud  and blessed to call that amazing young man, my son, my future “Patch Addams” and an enlisted   Army recruit.

Just Sayin’,

Christina