Taking Control Of Your Physical Health The 4 “D”s Of Success “Drive”

When we choose to pursue a genuinely important goal, such as taking control of our physical health, we plant the seed of Drive deep in the reaches of our innermost being.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a salmon run in the waters of a wild Alaskan river. Picture sudden flashes of silver and red, in the white water of angry rapids. Watch as salmon courageously fight the relentless current and catapult, one after another, over boulders and up falls, to reach the shallows. Here they spawn, and end the epic journey to fulfill their destiny, and successfully complete the cycle of life.

I can’t think of a better way to illustrate the concept of Drive, than with this imagery.

In my opinion, George Will authored one of the better written descriptions of the concept of Drive in the following passage from his book "Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball." 

“Only a fortunate few have the gifts necessary to become great athletes. However, no “gift” is sufficient for greatness. Greatness is never given. It must be wrested by athletes from the fleeting days of their physical primes. What nature gives, nurture must refine, hone and tune. We speak of such people as “driven.” It would be better to say they are pulled, because what moves them is in front of them. A great athlete has an image graven on his or her imagination, a picture of an approach to perfection.”

When we choose to pursue a genuinely important goal, such as taking control of our physical health, we plant the seed of Drive deep in the reaches of our innermost being. Then, depending on our resolve, the seed either sprouts and grows, or withers and dies. If it grows, it will mature into a powerful force which will assume total control of the journey to our goal. At that point, all we will be able to do is hang on!

Driven individuals live in two distinctly different but intertwined worlds. The first is the physical world that surrounds them. This is the world in which they will navigate the journey toward their goal. In doing so, they will encounter many different people. Some will support them, others will oppose them, and still others will feign support while working to derail their effort. Recognizing this will teach them to be extremely cautious when deciding whom to trust. It will also force them to become self-reliant and independent. In the process, they will develop a tremendous inner strength. This inner strength will project as a bold self-confidence and express itself in everything they do. As a result, some people will become jealous. Others, intimidated by this self-confidence, will label them as arrogant, or cocky, in attempts to insult and minimize them. But this will not deter them. In fact, it will lift them. Their self-confidence will continue to grow, fueled by a powerful internal force that will eventually overwhelm and overtake it; a force which arises in the second world, the visceral world.

This is the world in which the planted seed grows. The world where the boundless inner force of Drive originates, and from which it flows. This is not a physical world. It is an internal world that exists deep within their very being. Nothing in this world obstructs, hinders, or discourages them. Rather, it embraces and supports them as they undertake their journey. Like the spawning salmon, those consumed by the compelling force of Drive, cannot help but forge ahead on their journey and, despite all obstacles, never stop until they reach their goal!

Shelter Fitness knows what it means to be driven because we live it every day! Our goal is to provide you with the best quality commercial grade products available, reasonable prices, fast, prompt shipping, and unbeatable customer service. We are dedicated to that goal, and absolutely have the discipline to succeed! Try us and find out for yourself!