You Must Do It

 

First Lady Betty Ford wrote: 

"You never know what you can do until you have to do it." 

This quote speaks to the remarkable capacity of human beings to rise to the occasion when faced with challenges or difficult circumstances. At its core, it underscores the idea that our true potential often remains hidden until we are compelled by necessity or circumstance to tap into it. The call for using the full strength  of our human spirit to push ourselves to its limits is self-explanatory.

This quote emphasizes the idea that our self-imposed limitations are often far narrower than our actual abilities. We have to actualize any potential we have to realize growth and eventually victory. Push off into life with gusto and your absolute best. Never settle for less than the miles you advanced yesterday. New days bring important new discoveries essential to our individual talents to blossom.

In a broader context, it encourages us not to underestimate ourselves or prematurely dismiss challenges as insurmountable. It suggests that the human spirit is resilient and adaptable, capable of achieving remarkable feats when pushed to the limit. A carpenter during my home improvement told me once, "No one said it was going to be easy." Truer words were never spoken.

So, when faced with uncertainty or doubt, this quote reminds us to embrace the challenge, for it is in these moments that we may discover our untapped potential and the depths of our capabilities. It encourages us to have faith in our ability to adapt and grow in the face of adversity, revealing that our true strength often lies hidden until we must summon it to overcome life's obstacles.

I'm certain athletes, especially those like bodybuilders and weight lifters, adopt the quote to exceed any idea of limitations they conceive maximized their strength. This is how records -- both societal and personal -- are set. The untapped abilities in our minds must be pushed to their limits before new successes are established.

However, how does this advice relate to overcoming bad habits or faults while establishing new and needed accomplishments? How does Ford suggest we overcome any physical or mental foe that pins our ideas of limitations to the mat ... often for the final count?

Effort is the key to confronting and overcoming all expectations. Too often we take mediocrity for granted and make ourselves believe we have already achieved our best. I believe "our best" is never enough -- not only in our physical achievements but also in our mental capacities. Many work hard, become exhausted, and simply quit after trying passing their accepted high marks of character and spirit. Often, these accomplishments are set too low because of the tremendous toll on energy and time they require from our bodies and brains.

Sadly ... 

Although some achieve apparent miracle status, most people never even touch the top layer of their abilities. The high degree of difficulty of such challenging and demanding tasks simply wears out the participant and defeats purpose. Like the old saying: "Anything worthy of accomplishment takes hard work." Yet, how often do we accept second-best and stop the final, hardest push to the top.

Tired bodies and minds attest to the fallout rate while reaching mediocrity and settling for less than total achievement in most everything we do. We accept the lowest level of our goal and move ahead to what we think is "enough" often falling far short of our true limitations. To us, "it's just too demanding" to continue.

George S. Patton Jr. said, “Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity is untrue to himself.” Yet, our own deep fears often prevent us from exceeding mediocrity. And, we are also used to associating with mediocre people and becoming one of their flock. Colin Powell adds: An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people."

Modeling greatness and achievement groom successful advocates of wondrous accomplishment by helping push them ever onward to reach their highest possible goals. We do not have to invent success. Blueprints already exist and coaches never tire of helping others achieve -- dare I say "overachieve" -- in these difficult quests of attainment. Strong mind breeds unequaled success.

Ford's emphasis is right on point -- our minds and bodies simply "have to do it" to reach our zenith of progress. "I could do that" is an empty, self-serving statement; I will do that is testament to the absolute power of the human spirit. Even though "that" means many different things in many different contexts, the extreme need for doing it produces the greatest effect. Oh, that success does not stem from luck or industrious labor -- it begins with effort and the refusal to accept final failure. 

Some failing souls simply lack the need and effort required for supreme attainment. These people refuse to try to establish newer limits because they are lazy and, quite frankly, unable to motivate themselves. Downtrodden, they refuse to seek help or assistance by settling for the old rigidity of decay.

Were you created for greatness? You may ask the Man upstairs, but Einstein says,  “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” You must fight the power of opposition with every fiber of your being to avoid settling for less. You possess the miracle of your own conception, and you must actualize your own success and dreams. Others may even resist your finest, well-planned efforts.

When confronted, you must still seek your dreams with action, not defeat. The resiliency of your spirit eventually gains favor, and you then become a "tough customer" on a mission. Others may still say, "Why does he just have to do it?  Doesn't he know better." 

The direct answer is "I do it because I must, and my heart and mind will eventually find a way."

Accepting mediocrity puts an end to dreaming and thwarts successful, continual achievement. Are you strong enough to accept falls and criticism from others. John Steinbeck assures us that “Only mediocrity escapes criticism.” Opposition is common to all who achieve. These naysayers are often frightened by those who do what they can't, or, more accurately "refuse to accept the challenges of doing the impossible." Their unimaginative and fragile minds refuse the stresses of difficult applications and prefer simple comforts to which they have become accustomed. They also often leach onto other's incredible inventions and improvements.

These sluggards avoid difficulty in preference to becoming lazybones of rigidity. Are they happy with their own accomplishments? Or do they just prefer comfort to challenges of presented to their own thoughts and actions? So many just fail to care once a comfort zone keeps them warm and cozy.

Who will be called upon to do something very difficult that he/she must have to do to survive? Likely all of us will face the circumstace in some measure. The more apt question is "Who will be successful in defeating the unbelievable challenges of life?" Settling for "it's just my bad luck" is unacceptable, static defeat built on self-pity and weakness of spirit. 

Ask those who just have had to have done it; those who have had to have accomplished the nearly impossible. Will power works marvelous wonders while procrastinators float aimlessly adrift on Easy River. Finding success may share a multitude of actions; however, none is more important than reaching the reason for embarking with that first step -- an amazingly simple "I had to." Then, paddle like hell for your first destination -- the joy, I guarantee you, will be a part of the actual journey. Of course, you knew that because you just had to do it in the first place.