Curious about Desire: Do You Know What You Want and Have a Burning Desire Strong Enough to Get It?

Definition of Desire : To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy. Anything which is desired; an object of longing.

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” - Napoleon Hill, American writer

“Desire! That's the one secret of every man's career. Not education. Not being born with hidden talents. Desire.” - Bobby Unser, American celebrity

I chose “Desire” for this week’s blog theme for several reasons. First, because I am re-reading “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill – you have just read his thoughts about the importance of a true desire. Bobby Unser agrees whole heartedly. But, most of all, because when people are asked about what they want and/or what are their dreams and desires, most say they don’t know.

I also feel that we settle on “not knowing” because if we do know, we will have to go after it or them, which produces a state of fear. We are afraid that we won’t succeed at receiving our desire and hate the idea of failure.

How about you? What is your burning desire? Realize that anyone who experiences failure is so far ahead of those who never try that it makes sense and is worthwhile to take the risk. Another known fact is that those working on a desire often experience a down turn just before the break through and success. It is easy to give up at this point. Don’t. Those who persevere and stick with it, do achieve and receive their desire.

Many uplifting quotations resulted from my search for “desire:”

• “The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear.” - Brian Tracy, American author
• “My secret? A desire to work, years of dedication and loving what you do; I can't live without music.” - Compay Segundo, Cuban musician
• “Plant the seed of desire in your mind and it forms a nucleus with power to attract to itself everything needed for its fulfillment.” - Robert Collier, American publisher
• “Out of need springs desire, and out of desire springs the energy and the will to win.” - Denis Waitley, American writer
• “When desire dies, fear is born.” - Baltasar Gracian, Spanish philosopher
• “Have the courage of your desire.” - George Gissing, British novelist

A few more with a bit of a different twist:

• “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” - E. B. White, American comedian
• “A desire presupposes the possibility of action to achieve it; action presupposes a goal which is worth achieving.” - Ayn Rand, Russian writer“
• "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” - Bill Cosby, American comedian
• “The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who... looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space... on the infinite highway of the air.” - Wilbur Wright, American inventor
• “It is psychological law that whatever we desire to accomplish we must impress upon the subjective or subconscious mind.” - Orison Swett Marden, American writer
• “This life is a hospital in which each patient is obsessed with the desire to change beds.” - Charles Baudelaire, French poet

In addition, two for the road (ones that speak to me especially):

“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire; the size of your dream; and how you handle disappointment along the way.” - Robert Kiyosaki, American author

“Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe, and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.” - Paul Meyer, French writer

What is your desire? Have you written it down? Do you state it several times a day and just before you go to sleep? Make it your focus, and we all will be celebrating victory before long.

Curious about Listening: How Do We Become Better Listeners? How Important Is It?

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” - Bryant H. McGill, American poet

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.” - Robert Baden-Powell, English soldier

I think that most of us know how important “Listening” is. But, I ask you, how effective a “Listener” are you? I was reminded of this fine art and important skill while reading, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful” by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter.

Goldsmith works with successful executives who, even though successful, have habits or a habit that need(s) to be “fixed.” And one is the lack of effective listening. As I read this section, I realized that I need to work on this area. I love to talk and know that I sometimes - even when listening - tend to jump in with a statement and/or an idea that is generated by something someone else has said.

When I searched for “Listening” quotations, I was overwhelmed by the number and scope. Many were in the field of music, and, though important, I haven’t included many of them. I think you will be grateful for the thoughts expressed by the experts.

Some general quotations about “Listening”:

• “Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” - Bernard Baruch, American businessman
• “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.” - Larry King, American entertainer
• “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia, American author
• “One learns more from listening than speaking. And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to tell us which we cannot hear within university walls.” - Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian explorer
• “It's only through listening that you learn, and I never want to stop learning.” - Drew Barrymore, American actress
• “So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.” - Jiddu Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher

Additional quotations that add more dimensions:

• “The opposite of talking isn't listening. The opposite of talking is waiting.” - Fran Lebowitz, American journalist
• “Listening is the only way to entertain some folks.” - Kin Hubbard, American journalist
• “Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.” - Joyce Brothers, American psychologist
• “Storytelling captures an aspect of childhood experience when being told a story was a common ritual. It's a warm place for most of us and in some ways represents our first experience in really listening.” - Paul Lansky, American composer
• “The best way to persuade people is with your ears - by listening to them.” - Dean Rusk, American diplomat
• “The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success.” - James Cash Penney, American businessman
• “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” - Ernest Hemingway, American novelist

And here are several to work on this coming week. I know that I plan to focus on “Listening.” How about you?

• “Sticking to your values, listening to your instincts, making your own choices is so important.” -Brittany Murphy, American actress
• “The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.” - Joan Didion, American author
• “If you want to make someone feel emotion, you have to make them let go. Listening to something is an act of surrender.” - Brian Eno, British musician

Do let me know how you do? Making the conscious effort to “Listen” completely will not only change our lives, but will also change others’ attitudes toward us.