Strength of Purpose Defeats Avoidance

Dr. Stephen R. Covey, 1932–2012

The late Stephen Covey, educator, businessman, and motivational speaker, was the author of 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, named the most influential business book of the twentieth century. In his blog at www.stephencovey.com, Dr. Covey wrote:

As I think of the struggles many people go through, I am reminded of a powerful quote by Albert E. N. Gray: “The successful person has the habit of doing things failures don’t like to do. They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.”

If you are someone who has to make important changes in your life, you may want to ponder on this idea. What are the things you know you have to do but are avoiding? If you were to discipline yourself and create a plan for doing those things, would you find positive, even breakthrough rewards?

In my case, I know when I’m trying to avoid doing something, I eventually see that I’ve paid an even higher price by avoidance. For example, when I’ve neglected my health by not eating right, exercising, or getting enough sleep because I find it hard to stick to a disciplined regimen, I have found myself feeling sluggish and not doing my best work. When I finally subordinate my dislikes to the strength of my purpose, things turn around.

Identify something you are avoiding and make a promise that you will do it. Make a promise and keep it. Subordinate the things you dislike doing to your greater purpose. The more you do this, the more strength you will build—and the more success you will find.