Ever read, “Outwitting the Devil?” I have… and I was “shocked” at some of the ideas inside. And a bit unnerved at my own lack of understanding.
If you are easily offended, you may want to pass on this post.
Listen to this.
The idea behind “Outwitting the Devil?” is that the Devil uses pretty sneaky and seemingly positive methods to (without a person even recognizing it) ensnare our minds and control the effort we put into productive actions.
It digs deep into human psychology and motivation to understand why so many individuals use comfort and the fear of change to resist things that can make our lives SO MUCH BETTER.
It lays out how we can be disarmed and paralyzed into apathy with fear, procrastination, anger, and bitterness so that we do not reach our full potential and are unable to give the world “our best” instead convincing ourselves we are less capable than we are.
In the book is identified two types of people and you are either one… or the other. You are either “driven” or you are “a drifter.”
It reminded me of an old Southern saying…
In a bacon and cheese omelet, the chicken is involved, but the pig is fully committed.
If you are easily offended, here’s where you may want to pass on this post.
What is the difference (as a parent of strong-willed kids) between just being involved and being committed? Between being a drifter and driven?
The “involved” or the “drifter” makes excuses.
“That won’t work for me. Maybe THEY can do it but I’m not THEM. It IS what it is. This is our new life. There’s nothing we can do to address these challenges. Our child/situation is SO different that nothing works.”
The “involved” or the “drifter” buy into the stories replayed in their minds to explain away why they are no longer “taking action.”
Those that are committed (the driven) know that you don’t get what you want in life (or even what you think you deserve), you get what you’re committed to.
Commitment is the foundation of having the kind of life we want… and helping our kiddos achieve their full potential… what ever that may mean.
When we aren’t committed, then we’re only going to be “involved” in our kids lives. I’ve heard some call it… “parenting by default.”
Every time that we don’t go ALL IN…
Every time we just dip our toe in…
Every time we don’t follow through…
We’re simply “involved” and we’re limiting our… and our kids potential. We’re blocking a better life. A happier life. For ourselves… AND OUR KIDDOS.
When we are simply “involved” we quit trying when times get hard.
When times get hard, we blame and complain. We make excuses.
When we’re committed, we are being guided every day. When we are committed, we understand what’s at risk if we don’t show up and work hard.
When we’re committed, we know that there’s a price to pay and if we don’t pay it, our families and our kiddos will suffer because of it.
I call myself the “Driven Dad” for a reason.
Hopefully it’s obvious why.
So, here’s a question we all must ask ourselves… eventually… hopefully.
Are we committed? Are we driven? Or are we just along for the ride and parenting by default? Are we committed or are we simply “involved?”
Every day that we aren’t committed, we can’t expect our lives to change for the better.
Change for the better doesn’t happen by accident. It takes work.
Hope and faith are great… and powerful… but without a plan and “action” nothing will change.
If you are ready to stop simply being involved…
If you are ready to stop asking for an easier life…
If you are ready to become better and stronger…
Get committed… take ACTION, become DRIVEN to face the challenges KNOWING you can succeed.
For you AND your kids.
Especially YOUR kids. They deserve your best. They deserve better than your best. They deserve you to be driven.
I guarantee… it’s always worth it.
Because you’ll become stronger and more capable (and happier) and do more than other people only dream of doing.
Most are interested. They are involved. They don’t commit.
But if you are ready to be committed and driven… I’m here to help.
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