Have you ever thought about what it means to be determined. It’s not casual. It’s deliberate. It’s intentional. Determination demands focus. 

From the Latin (because I love word origins), determination shares a root with terminate. Determination is about bringing boundaries or an end to the things not in your scope. 

Are you determined to get a certain thing? Anything “not that” is off your radar. That could be a new job, house, health status, partner, etc. 

You stop negotiating with yourself and therefore, you don’t entertain options from anyone else. Before you become determined, all options are available. After your decision, you cut away options that aren’t part of your desired outcome. Doing so creates clarity through exclusion.

Think about that. I, personally, am a possibility thinker. I love options and the options that the options have. And then, when I’m focused on the outcome I want, everything else falls away. You might relate to that. Or you might just find that cutting right to it is what you naturally do. 

I often talk about how you have to let go of something lesser in order to be free enough to hold onto something greater. When you commit to something, and you become determined to get it, you let go of old ways. You build new habits that support your priority. 

Determination is about consistency, not intensity. You don’t have to power through something to get what you want. You have to be consistent. Doing so also reduces decision fatigue. Once you’ve decided, you don’t need to keep deciding. You simply need to be consistent in your actions. 

Here’s something fun to think about: Determination shows up on ordinary days. Just another Wednesday, and I’ve committed to ______. There’s no push. You just do. 

Committed to great oral health? You floss and brush. You just do.
Committed to great financial health? Relationship health? Leadership health? You practice what’s right. You just do.

As with most of the skills I talk about and put in front of you, determination is something to be deliberate about. It’s active and intentional. Stay in it. And keep making your magic.

= Wayne =