Harvey, Jason - Achieve Anything In Just One Year - Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals

DAY

198

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Steven had an ultimate goal in mind, and when he made it to that spot, to that X on the map he had drawn for himself, he would consider himself a success. He did make it to the X, and he stood there admiring his achievements with a grand feeling of satisfaction. Steven had a great job, a huge house, and three sports cars in the garage. That was his goal, and he achieved it.

Now what?

The one thing Steven didn’t learn on his journey to achieve his dreams was that it doesn’t matter where he stands today. What matters is the direction he is moving. The game isn’t over until you’re six feet under. He will be faced with the same question today as he was yesterday: what are you doing to move forward in life?

The truth is you are not striving for a gold star or a first place ribbon. You are looking for the fulfillment that comes every day when you learn something new or help another individual on their journey or triumph over an obstacle that stands in your way. Knowledge and love and compassion are signs of success, not obtaining the coolest toys on the block. Material things are nice, but personal fulfillment is even better.

Are you standing still or moving? What direction are you moving today? Are you following your destiny, or are you on a detour somewhere lost in a forest of superficial desires and looking for an X on the map?

DAY

199

“Discontent is the first step in the progress of a man or a nation.”

— Oscar Wilde

Think back to the times when you’ve made a lot of progress in your life. What brought on the impulse to move forward? Write about a few instances in your journal and try to remember exactly what initiated your progress. Did you have an inspiration? Were you solving a problem? What was the catalyst that caused your growth spurt?

Sometimes progress does not come out of a positive feeling of wanting to move forward. It more often comes from feelings of discontent. Even though moving forward is a good thing, it’s much easier and more comfortable to stay in the same spot. Therefore, it takes a strong feeling of discomfort to get in gear. Things have to get pretty bad before most people are willing to change.

The formation of the United States came out of the massive discontent of British colonies in America. Their situation finally got so bad that they were willing to fight for independence. Apartheid, a system that institutionalized racial discrimination in South Africa, caused years of discontent, and ultimately it was dismantled in 1994 as a result of the combined discontent represented by demonstrations, riots, and international pressure. In 1980, Gdask , Poland, was the site of a labor strike that resulted in the recognition of the first non-Communist trade union in the Soviet Eastern Bloc. The discontent of those 17,000 shipbuilders was one of the first steps toward the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. Discontent cannot be underestimated as a powerful tool for progress. It has been the first step for change throughout time.

DAY

200

“We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

— C. S. Lewis

Welcome to Day 200! You have made a huge accomplishment by coming this far in your work to achieve your dreams. You are more than halfway through the year, and if you are diligently working on the exercises presented in this book, change is starting to occur in your life whether you recognize it yet or not.

Progress doesn’t happen all at once. It is a gradual transformation that becomes more and more visible over a period of time. You should take time to congratulate yourself today for the hard work you have put into achieving success. You have more to learn, greater opportunities for growth, and thousands of new chances for progress ahead.

Do you feel like you are on the right road today? This moment of reflection on should give you an opportunity to make sure you are traveling down the correct path. It’s easy to get off and end up on the wrong road. Actually, it’s not that terrible if you think that’s what you’ve done. You learn from your mistakes just as much as your triumphs. Maybe you tried your hand at a new job opportunity, and it just doesn’t seem right for you. That’s okay. Admit when you’ve made a mistake and change. As C. S. Lewis mentions in the quote above, the guy who turns back the soonest when he realizes he is on the wrong road is the most progressive. Notice it doesn’t say the guy who never makes any mistakes is the most progressive.

DAY

201

“Sometimes questions are more important than answers.”

— Nancy Willard

What? How can questions be more important than answers? You are striving for success, and that means you should be finding the answers. You should be getting to the truth, reaching your destiny, and making things work. You want conclusions, not questions.

Not true! Questions will lead you down new and inspiring roads. Where do answers lead you? If you already have a conclusion, why would you go exploring?

When you start really asking questions and pondering the things you don’t know, that is when you have the ability to reach beyond your current abilities. Questions open doors and give you choices. Answers tie everything up in a neat bow and close things up. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. End of discussion.

Are you asking enough questions? Do you prefer to be the know-it-all in the group, or would you rather be the one with the least experience who is willing to learn new things? Maybe you fall somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.

Ask questions today. That’s not just a general idea, it’s a directive. Try to ask more questions than provide answers today and see where it takes you. At the end of the day, journal about your experience as a result of this assignment. Did the questions open any doors for you? Did they change your current way of thinking? Did you gain any valuable knowledge from the questions you asked? Make it a daily practice to ask questions and actively search for new information. The more you seek, the more you’ll find.

DAY

202

“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton asked why.”

— Bernard Baruch

Sometimes asking questions is not the most popular thing to do. People around you might think you’re a troublemaker . . . or just plain stupid. Are you willing to go out on a limb—just like Newton did—and ask why?

Asking questions is a character-building experience, and that’s a good thing. The more you can be true to yourself and not worry about what the rest of the crowd is doing, the better. It doesn’t matter if your co-workers are snickering behind your back. You have an honest motive when you ask why. You are gaining knowledge and increasing your chances of success. You might also ask a question they’ve been wondering about for months and were too afraid to voice.

If you don’t understand something, ask. It’s much better to admit you need help and learn something new than it is to pretend you know what you’re doing and then get caught in your ignorance. It’s okay to be curious. In fact, it’s the sure sign of someone on the road to success.