A Child’s Determination

”I want a fruit snack,” I hear my 2-year old say. He just had one and he wants another. Being the good parents that we are trying to be, we say no. He pleads a little and we explain that he can’t have another one right now. A few minutes later, we hear this crashing sound coming from the kitchen pantry! We run in and what do we see? Michael standing there surrounded by fallen items, with a package of fruit snacks in his hands! My wife and I look at each other in amazement, being that the box of fruit snacks was on the 4^th shelf up at approximately 5 feet off of the floor!

How in the world does a 2-year old child reach a box of fruit snacks on the 4^th shelf, 5 feet above the ground?

My friends, there is the problem! We all know exactly what happened. We can easily deduct from the crashing sound, and Michael standing with the prize in his hands, that he pulled himself up the shelves (seems to be a very strong child), climbed and pulled until he got what he wanted. So what is the problem? Well, most people will ask the question that I just asked: “How in the world…”

I’ll tell you how.

He was focused on the fruit snack! How many times have you seen something that you wanted and then saw the obstacles in front of you and gave up? How many times have you said, “That can’t be done.” Have you ever settled for something less than what you wanted because the challenge was just too tough?

You see, Michael wasn’t looking at the shelves. He didn’t know that the height of the box of fruit snacks was more than twice his size. Michael was not aware that obstacles were in his path. He saw what he wanted and he did what he had to do to get it!

So how does that differ from you and me? We are grown adults. We can see a prize. We can see what needs to be done to get something. We can make a plan to overcome those objectives. So what is the difference? Why do so many people fail?

Let me test you…

I want you really imagine each step in your mind. Close your eyes and visualize it. See yourself doing each step. Ready?

Imagine a long board. It is about 10 feet long and 12 inches wide. Place it on the ground (a flat surface) and walk across it. Actually picture yourself doing this. Even better, if you have a board like this, then physically do it!

Ok, now that you have walked across it, how do you feel? Pretty easy right. Really, how hard could it be? Your foot is probably no wider than 6 inches, you’ve been walking all your life, not too far to walk. Not bad right?

Ok, next, I want you to imagine that same board resting on 2 chairs. So now it is approximately 2 or 3 feet off the ground. Now, walk across it again.

Easy right? The board is wider than your foot, you’ve been walking all your life, and you’ve done it once already so you know you can do it. Not bad.

Next, Imagine that board just a little higher. Let’s say about 6 feet off of the ground. Now, walk across it. Probably just as easy right. Not too bad, your foot is smaller than the board, you’ve been walking all your life, and you’ve done it twice now. How hard can this be?

Ok, now, I want you to imagine that same board that you have walked across three times already, at a height of 110 stories; the height at which the World Trade Center Towers stood. Look down and see the tiny ants that are people. Look at those tiny moving things… they are cars. Now, walk across that board!

How do you feel now? Did you make it? Did you even try? Well, let’s look at this. The board is larger than your foot, you’ve been walking all your life, you’ve crossed it three times now without a problem, so what happened?

Why didn’t you walk across the board? Are you concerned about, oh, let’s say, falling!? Wait a minute; haven’t you walked across the board three times already? Were you concerned about falling those three times? Ah ha! I bet you weren’t.

So, how does all of this relate. Well, quite simply, what are you focused on? My son was focused on the fruit snack. Guess what, he got it! You were focused on falling. Guess what, you didn’t get it!

I believe that too often, we let our past dictate what we can and cannot do. We grow up all our lives being told no, what we can’t do, what we should and shouldn’t do. Do you think that maybe a 2-year old child that hasn’t had 20, 30, or 40 years of “no” programmed into his mind never even thinks about what he can’t do? I can tell you that since that incident, there is no telling him that he can’t have a fruit snack from up there! He knows he can get it! He’s done it already! We had to re-arrange things!

Would you agree that if your child were on the other side of that board at 110 stories high and their life was in danger that you would quickly get across it and save your child? I know I would! I wouldn’t even think about falling. I would think about saving my son! I would be focused on success!

So what can we learn from a child’s determination? That it is really pretty simple to get a fruit snack? Or that what we focus on is what we get?

Any time you feel yourself doubting something or struggling to achieve what you set out for, ask yourself: What am I focused on? Do I see the obstacles or do I see the end result? Do I have a big but? Huh? You read that right! I said, “Do I have a big but?” You know, everyone has big buts! Let me explain.

You are focused on your success, you are getting there, and there are some obstacles. You stop and ask yourself what you are really focused on. You answer, “Self, I am focused on the prize and my success, BUT…”

How many times do you use the word “but” in an answer or explanation? If you are constantly saying “but,” then you are NOT focused on success. You are focusing on an obstacle! My friends, you need to get rid of your buts!

You want to achieve success? What are you focused on?