MANY authors have a brilliant idea, start a book and soon realize they are not writing anymore! And like those authors or writers, often we are very excited when given a new task, a new project or assignment; we feel great we have been chosen, we also feel we can do a great job of it, and we start off with a bang.
But often it’s like opening a soda bottle, initially there’s a lot of fizz, and then it’s gone. There is a saying often applied to sporting events that also fits very well with every other endeavour in the workplace: “It is not how you start, but how you finish.”
When a new initiative begins, such as rollout of an innovative product, an imaginative marketing strategy, or implementation of new technology, we typically experience high levels of enthusiasm. Expectations are lofty and hopes soar in anticipation of promising outcomes.
However, such peaks of energy and excitement are rarely sustained. It is not unusual for people to become disillusioned, discouraged and fatigued about halfway into a difficult challenge, no matter how worthwhile it may be to pursue.
Emotions start to subside and the reality sets in about the hard work and drudgery required to bring a project to its conclusion.
At such times it helps to get matters into a proper perspective; when I start to feel the fatigue, it is important to remind myself that my feelings are not a reliable measure of how things should go.
For instance, the Book of Proverbs says, “Like an open city with no defences is the man with no check on his feelings.”
Feelings can soar and feelings can spiral, so we cannot trust in emotions if we are to successfully finish what we have started.
Our feelings come from a variety of sources – past, present and future. But in fact feelings are not always a reflection of reality.
Not only that, but life is complex and we must often live with mixed feelings: “Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief” Or as someone said, “Sometimes I laugh to keep from crying.”
Feelings act like a ride on a rollercoaster; all ups and downs. They are also like two rails on a railway track. One rail represents good and positive things in life; the other represents the bad and painful elements of our life.
We need to recognize a simple truth that we will always encounter good and bad at the same time, that there will always be something good and something bad happening in your life.
That we need to move away from emotions and focus on the job at hand, to work past our feelings, and bring discipline into the fulfillment of a goal..!
