The Motivation, Discipline and Strength Are Already Inside You!

When we look at the world around us and see high achievers, it’s tempting to think that everything in their lives has been one smooth ride from the beginning. We see them at the top of their game; their contributions to the world respected and acknowledged. It’s easy to assume life must have been easy-going for them from day one. Surely these lucky men and women set out on a straight and narrow path from their first step, and were given every assistance along the way! This, of course, is untrue.

We tend to deny these dynamic men and women moments of doubt, second-guessing and failure. It takes real imagination to remove these people from the pedestal, so to speak, and recognize that they too were once just like you. They questioned their path, doubted their choices and were suspicious of their own capabilities. They came up against obstacles that seemed insurmountable, and wondered whether or not they could endure. They had many dark nights of the soul and questioned everything around them.

Those of us who dream of doing great things must continuously keep in mind that even very successful lives are filled with disappointments. More to the point, it is usually those who are most successful who have overcome the most difficult challenges. When we are ambitious—when we strive and take risks—we necessarily push against boundaries, stave off discouragement from naysayers, and overturn entrenched ways of thinking. We are bound to meet resistance in all its many forms. It is by adapting to and overcoming these frictions that we go on to achieve greatness. Bravely meeting adversity head-on and cultivating healthy defiance is the very method by which we evolve into someone who never limits their life.

All living things develop, change, and grow, progressing towards some form of independence. The process never stops. That is what’s unique and beautiful about human beings, and what makes us the most interesting creatures on Earth. We are carried through time, sometimes despite our most ardent wishes otherwise. The days and nights unfold unceasingly, and we unfold along with them. There is never a moment’s rest—we can only steer ourselves down this stream of time. The urge to expand ourselves, to become greater beings than we were yesterday, is constant. We only stagnate when we bury this encouraging drive deep down inside ourselves. We can try to mute this prodding voice, but it is always with us. Denying this ambition goes against our very nature.

Watch motivational speaker Derek Clark’s inspiring video. “Is your inner me, the enemy?”

As a human being, overcoming adversity is written into our very DNA. It is as natural to our kind as breathing. There was a long time in each of our lives when we were utterly helpless. When we were babies, we relied on others for everything. Our parents—or whoever our caregivers were—fed, clothed, and provided for us. And then nature took its course, and we found something inside ourselves that was there from the beginning.

You were probably just a few months old when you tired of crawling, and began to hold yourself upright on the furniture. You stood up on two feet and liked it. One day you pushed yourself off from these props and took your first confident step. And what happened? You fell down hard on your butt, you scraped your knees and burst into tears of frustration. But what happened inside your soul? You knew there was no going back. You wanted to be better than you were before. Without conscious awareness, you willed yourself a goal. If you’d quit, you’d be a strange sight indeed, crawling around on all fours as an adult or young person.

This same drive is always within us. The fear of taking flight has to be learned. The world may try to beat out hope, optimism, and aspiration from our hearts. When we feel that happening, we must remember the child we once were—the baby who brazenly took those first awkward steps and eventually found its footing. Never give up!

By Derek Clark - Motivational and Inspirational Keynote Speaker - Author of six personal and professional development books.

To schedule motivational and inspirational speaker Derek Clark for your next conference or would like to hire him to be your next keynote speaker, visit www.IWillNeverGiveUp.com