The Chief Cause of Failure

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is changing what you want most for what you want right now." Zig Ziglar

Have you ever broken a promise, a vow, or one of your highest standards? If you're like the vast majority of us you have.

When you made the promise was it really important to you? Was it something you were determined to keep?

If so, what happened? Let's look at an example.

Perhaps on occasion you like to drink a little more than you should. Usually you control your drinking, but sometimes you overdo it.

No big deal. Lots of people have that problem. Maybe everybody does at some time.

Now let's say that someone close to you complains that when you drink too much you are critical and abusive. This bothers you since you don't want to be a mean person.

After a few bad episodes, this someone asks you to please limit how much you drink so that you don't get drunk and cause problems. Being the kind person you are, you promise never to get drunk again. And you mean it.

Then something happens. Relationship problems, work problems, money problems, or anything else. And you need to ease the pain. This time, one drink is not enough. You need more to deaden the overwhelming pain. And it works. That awful aching is eased.

Sadly, you've created another hurt. You broke your promise to that important person. He/she pushes you to explain. But you can only say that things got to you, and then say you're sorry.

This is what Zig Ziglar is talking about - the chief cause of failure and unhappiness.

You changed what you wanted most, keeping your promise, to what you wanted now, easing your emotional pain.

Drinking is only one of many examples we could use.

What if you are diabetic and know that you absolutely must refrain from eating sweets? But there's a family dinner with lots of desserts that look so good. What's one piece of pie with ice cream going to hurt?

What if you're married and vowed to be faithful but unexpectedly someone else stirs your sexual desire? You know what you should not do, but you want that person right now. Besides, who will ever know?

You own a business and promise to give your customers exactly what they pay for. Things get a bit tight financially and you see a way to save some money. All you have to do is ship your customers an inferior product. They trust you and won't suspect. Isn't it amazing how often the truth ends up coming out?

How many times has something like that happened to you?

Look back on your life at how much unhappiness and failure has been caused by such weaknesses, either by you or to you.

We are imperfect. We have flaws and make mistakes. We cannot completely eliminate these incidents. But we can do better.

What we have to do is intensify our standards, vows, and promises. We must not consider them as minor pledges to keep. We must be passionate about keeping them. And at the same time be passionate about fighting against those situations that entice us to overlook what we want most.

Look back on the times you've given in to what you want now and sacrificed what you wanted most.

It's in those times that each of us needs to be stronger. We can do it. We simply have to build the emotional fire that will help us maintain our integrity and limit our frailty.

Charles Emory http://selfimprovement123.com

A long-time student of self-improvement, I have learned a lot that I can share with you. Discover a wealth of ideas to help you achieve the success you desire.

Visit my website at the above link to learn more.


 By Charles Emory


Article Source: The Chief Cause of Failure