On Your Way to the Finish Line

Don’t you love the elation you feel when you cross the finish line of a successful race? Don’t you still recall a few great celebrations after accomplishing a big goal or dream?

We all have. And when we set our sights on a new finish line (an important goal or big dream), we are filled with great intentions and expectations. But then something happens. Your race grinds to a halt as resistance robs you of your passion and enthusiasm.

If this has not happened to you, you’re done. No need to read further. But if you are like me and most everyone else you have experienced defeat at the hand of resistance.

Steven Pressfield in his book The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles writes, “Resistance is experienced as fear; the degree of fear equates to the strength of resistance. Therefore the more fear we feel about a specific enterprise, the more certain we can be that that enterprise is important to us and to the growth of our soul. That's why we feel so much resistance. If it meant nothing to us, there'd be no resistance.”

We all long for the finish line. We want nothing more than to celebrate a great victory. Everyone one of us wants to run races rich in impact—positively contributing to the lives of the people we love, teams we lead and causes that stir our hearts.

No one has your unique place in history to create this impact. You were called, created and designed like no one else to deliver this impact. But we need a push—to be inspired and encouraged to accept our rightful place in the race and to push through the resistance.

“The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” 

—Steven Pressfield 

On your way to the finish line of any important race you will experience four things.

1. It will take you longer than you think. Dreams and goals are not as unrealistic as the time it will take to accomplish it.
2. It will cost more than you think. Beyond the financial investment that may be required, you’ll have to invest more time and effort.
3. It will be more frustrating than you think. Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson in her book, Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals, points out that successful goal achievers are confident they will eventually succeed, but are equally confident they will have a tough time getting there.
4. You will have more critics than you think. Ah the critics. Ignore them and certainly do not try to convince them to join you on your way to the finish line. Don’t allow the longing of your heart (the dream that God placed there) to be drowned out by the critics who if the truth be known don’t really care either way.

Impact is a mindset! A mindset that turns up the volume of the still-small voice within you that pushes you towards the finish line of the races rich in potential to positively impact the people you love, teams you lead and causes that stir your heart.