Why You Aren't Getting What You Want

You know when you buy something new and you are all excited about it because it seems so special. Then, suddenly, as you look around it seems like everyone else has what you just bought.  

It happened to me last week, but it wasn’t something I bought, it was something I wrote.

For those of you who read last week’s blog post, you know that I wrote about how I was giving up resolutions and was instead focusing on recommitting. I talked about why and how the two are different. (If you didn’t read it, you still can!)

Anyway, that very night after I posted it  and sent it to you I was reading a book called Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Ecker, and he was also talking about the importance of committing.  

What he wrote made complete sense to me, so I wanted to share it with you.  

He wrote that there are three levels of so-called wanting. (In his example it is about wanting to be rich, but you could substitute any adjective for rich and it still makes sense--happy, confident, successful, etc)

The first level is simply wanting. You say to yourself (or those around you), “I want to be _______.” If someone could wave a magic wand, or a genie could come out of a lamp, this is what you would wish for. Unfortunately, wanting something and having it aren’t mutually exclusive. You actually have to take action to get what you want.  

This leads to Harv Ecker’s second level of wanting.

The second level of wanting is “I chose to be __________.” This entails making a decision about it. There is a sense of responsibility attached to making a choice. Your mindset is different when you chose something, than when you just want it. In this instance, you are more likely to take action.

The final level of wanting, and the one that will most likely lead to success, is “I commit to being ________.” The definition Mr. Ecker gives for commit is “to devote oneself unreservedly.”  

This is where Mr. Ecker and I seem to align. When you commit to something, you take actions on a daily basis to show your commitment. You go after whatever it is without holding back. If something doesn't work, you try something else. Again and again.

Your commitment doesn’t end. 

In his example of being rich, once you commit to being rich, you still remain committed even once you become rich.

In the examples I gave last week about being committed it’s the same. There is no end to my commitment.

Just because I am currently healthy doesn’t mean my commitment to my health is over. I still commit everyday.  

Just because I took a few bold steps to grow my business doesn’t mean my commitment to being a bold leader is over. I still have to commit everyday.  

Like last week, I want to ask you again.  What are you committed to? Who are you committed to being?

It's Your Life. Live It Boldly.