Start With A Desire…A Burning Desire

What does it mean to have a burning desire?  More importantly, what’s it to me or to you?  Motivational speakers talk about it.   They say that a burning desire is a major component needed to reach one’s goal. 

​According to Napoleon Hill, “To achieve anything you need a burning desire.  Heather Buchman says, “Success starts with a burning desire inside yourself and the determination to never quit on it.”  And the late great Muhammad Ali stated, “Champions aren’t made in gyms.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside them…a desire, a dream, a vision.”

A burning desire is the very foundation needed to achieve a goal.  I see it as the glue that holds everything together when the going gets tough.  It is what keeps you focused on your goal.  So, in order to succeed, you must have a burning desire…a reason to keep going.

Just as a foundation of a house must be strong, your burning desire must be also. You can’t just have a wish or a hope; it must be strong and burning.   If having a burning desire is the foundation to reaching a goal, then it is important to get the burning desire right.  But how does one do that?

I have been a student of personal development for years.  I have read books; gone to seminars, listened to podcast…you name it, if I thought it was going to help be in my personal development, I was all ears.  But, believe it or not, just recently I have come to realize that I was missing something very important…the foundation, the glue…the right burning desire.

You see, I thought I had a burning desire as I set my goals and proceeded to achieve them.  Unfortunately, I continued to fall short of what I really wanted.  I now see that I had a desire, but it was more like a wish or hope. You see, my desire was not based on my core values.  I did not really have a burning desire.

Let me explain.  I truly believe that as we set big goals for ourselves, the burning desire must reflect our values.  For instance, let’s say that your goal is to obtain a large amount of money. Your burning desire to obtain this goal is so that you can buy a luxury car.  You already have a car that you are satisfied with, but another one sounds nice to have. 

Now let’s look at what you value.  Let’s say that you are not one to get excited over cars; in fact, you see them only as a way to get you to and from places.  However, when you look at your family members, mother, father, older sisters and brothers you realize how you feel when you think about being able to help them as they get older.  This gives you a feeling of joy just thinking about helping them, why?  Because you value family, security and stability.  Your service to others, especially your family, has always been part of who you are…a part of your value system. 

With this in mind, can you see how the burning desire changes?  With this change, you have the foundation or the glue that will carry you when you feel like quitting. This burning desire will see you through the challenges when the going gets tough. It will keep you focused on your goal.

Decide what you value and build your burning desire around your core values. If you do this, you will have the major component, the foundation, the glue… the right burning desire…you need to keep moving towards your goal.

 Intense, burning desire is the motivational force 
that enables you to overcome 
any obstacle and achieve almost any goal.
~ Brian Tracy