What does determination mean to you?

Is it sticking it out in tough times? Never quitting no matter what? Believing in yourself and your personal mission? Hanging in there regardless of the odds? Leaving the back door unlocked just in case?

I am always fascinated with textbook definitions. They so often only tell part of the story. Mr. Webster says determination is: “the quality of being resolute, firmness of purpose, the act of coming to a conclusion or resolving something, the settlement of a dispute,” there is more but the more I read the more confused I get.

But you can see that one word can have different meanings or interpretations. Just pick the one you want.

I believe there is much more to words than their definitions. This is why I started a new column in my popular newsletter, Life Balance, ‘It’s just a word.’ In the column I delve deeper into the hidden meaning or subtlety of the word. I look at the word more as a concept than a string of several letters blended together.

Determination: You have it or you don’t. You use it or you don’t. It is either a part of your emotional make up or it isn’t. You believe in your destiny, mission or purpose or you don’t. You have faith in the fulfillment of your dreams or you don’t. You work through issues, challenges, problems, failure and adversity or you don’t. You trust yourself to take right actions and make right decisions or you don’t.

You believe in greatness, abundance, happiness and success or you don’t. You never settle for less, second best, losing or you don’t. You try one new strategy, approach, action or you don’t. You stay with it until it works regardless of whether the outcome looked similar to your plan or you don’t. You try something new, original or creative or you don’t. You count your blessings or you don’t. You are a survivor or you are not. You enjoy the process of learning, becoming, achieving rather than just the outcome or you don’t.

I could go on like this forever but I only have one page to work with and you need to get back to work. Determination- ((De/termination)) – Terminate and De (not) - -not terminate.

How are you doing these days? Things a little tough right now? Or are you reaping the results of your previous determination? Either way, keep the vigil. You can’t ever let up. Life won’t let you. The moment you do, you invite life’s scorn, wrath and another opportunity for failure, disappointment and pain.

Tim Connor
www.timconnor.com