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Ten8 Fire

Are you committed? Part I

B. Keith Chapman, President & CEO

 

Commitment can be defined as the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or an activity. Throughout life, we see varying levels of commitment from people around us. It seems that in today’s world, we are more focused on how to get the biggest benefit in the shortest amount of time. While this focus can be a strategy for short-term success, it often falls short of keeping us on the sometimes-treacherous road to long-term success. It is easy to ignore the fact that the biggest challenges or most painful times are the ones that make us learn more and strengthen our confidence.

 

Our success in life, whether that be with family, friends or work, is directly proportionate to the level of effort or commitment that we dedicate to a cause. We can find this principle in many passages of scripture; however, Galatians 6:9 sums it up well by saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

 

As children, many of us remember growing up and being told that we will not appreciate what we have or what we accomplish unless we have earned it. Time, money and struggles are a few examples of things that will add appreciation for what we have or where we are in life. I remember thinking about this concept early in my career while I was still in college. For a season, I purposely volunteered to tackle the more difficult projects. In school, I deliberately choose subjects for research papers that I knew the least about and would require more work to research. These little experiments had a significant impact on my thought process, career path and overall satisfaction with my accomplishments.

 

Again, we must remember the battle comes in the middle of the journey. There is often excitement at the beginning and celebration at the end of the journey. Yet, it is the middle of the journey that will grow our character and add appreciation to our accomplishments. Andy Andrews said, “When confronted with a challenge, the committed heart will search for a solution. The undecided heart will search for an escape.” Are you finding solutions or searching for an escape? The escape option will provide an avenue to avoid obstacles and struggles. Nevertheless, the consequence of this choice will have lasting impacts on our overall success and confidence. The key is staying the course to reap the reward (harvest) of our labor.

 

Challenge: Remember challenges and difficulties are our opportunities to grow. The easy way out will not likely produce the same level of success. Be dedicated after the excitement wears off and through the challenges encountered in the middle of the journey; then celebrate the success on the other end of the struggle.

 

Published: April 2018

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