Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Become Hopeless!

I just finished an interview with a Los Angeles television station, regarding the story of NFL Or Bust (two posts prior), where Josh Johnson is attempting to become the NFL's oldest rookie in history. When asked why I thought Josh had a chance of making it at his age, the answer came shooting out of my mouth, almost before he finished the question...

"BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT! HE'S NOT HOPING... HE ABSOLUTELY KNOWS."

There's no doubt in his mind -- he can see that finish line at the end of the race. Josh understands how important it is to maximize his daily workouts, mentally and physically... focusing on the process, moment by moment.

Knowing vs. Hoping is what I want to talk with you about. Whatever your "race," can you see your goals being attained with 100% certainty? I'll never forget the day a mentor of mine explained how important it was for me to become totally hopeless.

What?? 

Yep, he said hopeless!

He wanted me to stop hoping, and begin knowing! We all have a tendency to "hope things through," rather than committing to our goals and motivations. Hope is easier than Knowing, because there isn't as much expectation to achieve -- there isn't as much (here we go again... wait for it...) PRESSURE on us to work and strive for better. Hoping gives us a mental 'out.' Knowing does not.

Whatever you're chasing, ask yourself this simple question... and answer it honestly:

Are you hoping to achieve, or do you truly know you will? 

When you can look in the mirror and know you know... the daily work and commitment will take on a life of it's own... happening with ease and consistency. Remember, it's this day-to-day action we take that ultimately leads us to our long term goals and motivations. Knowing (X) will happen down the road will make us continue working when our mind and body are telling us to stop. 

See it, believe it, know it.

Today, we live hopelessly!

10 comments:

Annie, The Amazing Shrinking Girl said...

Of all your posts, this is by far my favorite!

It speaks directly to me because I keep hoping things will work out. When I talk about reaching goal weight, it's always "if/when" not just "when".

On another note, I have to say thank you for your comments the other week on your posts... about focusing on the good habits and not the bad... focusing on the green, not trying to miss the lake (in your golf example). It's helped me a TON this past week!

THANK YOU!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great reminder. I always try to say that I will do something instead of that I'll try (yes, the irony of the last statement was noticed :)). But, I know that I don't always believe that I will, and in turn that means I don't put my heart and soul into it. From now on I will believe!

Sarah said...

yes. i need to lose the word 'hopefully' when visualizing my goal. thanks!

Matty said...

Dane, this is just awesome. It really puts success in perspective. I know for sure that I need to become more hopeless.

Retta said...

As with the word pressure, I suppose that it depends upon your definition of hope.

In my mind, hope is very powerful. It is the expectation and desire for a thing to happen; grounds for believing that a good thing is going to happen. It looks forward, with expectation.

It is essential, especially in the beginning of a journey. Later, I think we transition more to BEING... where you see it as done in your mind, and the phrase BE, DO, HAVE comes into play.

Anyway, that's my definition for hope. It is not wishy-washy... a way of sorta kinda committing, and wishing it all works out somehow.

It is powerful because it is based on something solid. For instance, if my hope is on God and His helping me, it is based on my belief that He is loving, cares for me, and is wise and powerful and DOES give a hoot how my life is going.

If my hope is to lose weight, then again, it is based on the solid knowledge of my own good choices for nutrition and exercise, and nothing can take that from me.

Hey, maybe you should change your definition of Hope. ;-)

I agree with the concept of what you are saying... that we need to KNOW in our own mind and heart, with a certainty, and then we will have an energy and belief that will carry us regardless of resistance along the way.

Loretta
=^..^=

spldbch said...

This is definitely a different way of looking at things. I think the difference between hoping and knowing is that hope implies powerlessness. If I hope something will happen it's as if I have no power to make it so. (e.g., "I hope the weather is nice tomorrow"). If I know something will happen, it's just a matter of me doing the work needed to bring it about.

Unknown said...

It's definitely an interesting concept, and one that took me awhile to grasp and trust.

Hoping is too often a negative mindset. Ie: "I hope the weight comes off; I hope I'll get to the gym; I hope I'll expand my business."

The other definition is obviously important, though... as Loretta explained. "The hope in God, love, etc." Hope can definitely be a positive, IF we use it that way.

My point was obviously aimed in the direction of the negative "hope."

Hope you know what I mean.

Anonymous said...

This is so true and that's what I intend to do from know on. WHen I set a goal I need to know that I will achieve it and not hope! Thanks for the inspiration!

Missy said...

This is an interesting perspective. I had never though of knowing I was going to reach my goals versus hoping I would reach my goals. In fact, I don't know whether I have ever even noticed that I was just hoping rather then knowing it.

Phil-theincredibleshrinkingman said...

great post Coach, not read for a few weeks and just taking sometime to catch up. One of the many changes i'm incorporating is the telling people When i get to goal, i'm not letting the possibility of failure enter the equation, bhow long it will take me is something else but in my mind I have no doubt that i'll get there, partly because of your inspirational posts. thanx