It’s part of our nature to succeed. We all have a sense of what we want to create for ourselves and are in a process of bringing these things forward into our lives, so we can have that sense of fulfillment. We know that a critical part of the process is to always understand our motivation before we begin, as this most definitely will impact the results. We must also consider the idea of ambition, for it is ambition that will provide the impetus and energy to propel us forward. Motivation and ambition are not the same thing, however, although they are strongly related. Put simply, motivation has to do with the “why” we do what we do. Ambition has more to do with our willingness to take action. This is an important distinction. The “why” portion of our experience takes a long time to discover, for it can indeed be quite subtle. It is, nevertheless, the most critical part of understanding ourselves. Without an awareness of our motivations, ambition has a tendency to overwhelm our experience and lead us in a direction we do not intend to go. Let’s take a look.
Understanding Motivation
The most important thing about our motivation is our level of honesty. The truth is that all our motivations are usually mixed. Ideally, we want to pick one reason to do what we do and focus on that. This will bring what we’re attempting to create to us sooner. Our actions will therefore be more defined. We must always be aware of the “why” part of our experience, otherwise life will seem to happen to us and not make sense. Unfortunately, more often than not, we say our motivation is one thing, but it is really another. This is one of the primary reasons behind the chaos and confusion we see in humanity and the world today. For the most part, we can do whatever we want to and create whatever we would like to create, but we must be clear and honest as to the reasons why.
What Ambition Creates
Ambition can be a good thing, but if we have no awareness of what it is creating in our lives, it can also be ultimately destructive. There are some of us who wish to rise to the top in our line of work, whatever that might be. We may also want to acquire a lot of money or seek positions of power. If we are willing to do this at any cost, we may want to be a little more thoughtful and reconsider. The majority of us are well aware that those individuals who become very successful in the business world, or have become powerful leaders in some area of human endeavor, have most likely taken advantage of those around them in order to get what they want and be where they are. This isn’t always the case, but again, let’s be honest. Do we desire getting to the top so much that we disregard the welfare of others in the process? If we step on everyone else or destroy our world in our achievements, is it worth it? If we are not thoughtful and considerate in our pursuits, our ambition can take over and ultimately lead, not only to our own destruction, but to the destruction of everything around us. More often than not, great personal ambition can indeed bring incredible material success and power, but it only involves oneself. All else is, unfortunately, forgotten. The more we acquire just for ourselves, the less will be available for everyone else. Personal power and wealth may come our way, but they are only temporary at best. We do, then, always want to be aware of the long term consequences of what we want to create, as consequences are a simple truth affecting our reality at all times. It has been said, “be careful what you ask for”. The universe does want to give us what we want. Are we prepared for what our success will bring? Real, lasting success must involve responsibility, fairness, and an awareness of more than just ourselves if our efforts are to provide improvement to our condition.
Do What You Love
Ultimately, what most of us want to create is a sense of peace and well-being in all that we do. This is the success we’re looking for. In order to make our unique contribution to the world, it’s important to feel good about what we’re doing. When contemplating our life choices, including our job or career, we will only be successful and fulfilled if we feel good about them. If we are unhappy and resentful, what are we really contributing? It’s true we can’t always have exactly what we want, but being ok with things as they are is a good place to start. If we hate what we’re doing, we are not benefitting ourselves or anyone else. We do also realize that we must survive as well, and this may require choosing something that is not optimal for our peace of mind. The good news is that nothing is forever, and we can keep our dreams alive by doing what is necessary in practical ways. Whatever we do has real value in the world, no matter what it is. Ideally, however, the best contribution we can make to humanity and the world is to do what we love. The best way to find what we love is to forget about the money, and we’ll be well on our way. We need to have some, for sure, but the desire for a lot will involve the path of personal ambition and the harm it will inevitably create. If you’re looking for a position of power and the personal satisfaction it might bring, make sure it is well-thought-out. We want to be ready and do the right thing with whatever we are given.
The important takeaway today is that we do have every right to pursue whatever we would like to. It is critical that we be honest about our motivation in order to be successful. I believe that personal ambition is overrated by society, as it mostly involves material success at the cost of everything else. In our self pursuit, we may need to be more aware of how it will impact others. The best way to avoid excessive personal ambition is to do what we love. It is our heart that will guide us to that which benefits the greater whole. We will make a more significant contribution thereby.
“Do what you love, and the rest will follow!”
All my love and support, stay safe and be well