Thrust is what gets an airplane off the ground. And it will get your dreams up above your obstacles.
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Ever seen a airplane being driven on a highway? I hope not. We do however see airplanes flying through the sky and aren’t even amazed. We expect airplanes to fly because that is how they have been designed. They have been engineered, built and purposed for flight. That is why there is no amazement on our faces when we see them soaring through the air. In fact the amazement comes to us if we were to see them doing something they weren’t designed to do.
Similarly, each person has been designed and purposed to succeed. Each of us been given a talent or gift that will cause of to live the life we dream about. Like Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Sean Combs, or Martin Luther King, we all have a gift or talent that has the ability to change our life. However, so many people live their entire lives without experiencing that great life that we dream about. They become like the plane being driven on a highway, they have the ability to do so much more but settle for less. Why is that? Although the planes are designed for flight, there are times when we see 5 or 10 planes on the ground at an airport. They are not soaring across the sky as they have the ability to do because thrust has not been added to the equation. No matter how aerodynamically the plane has been made or how pretty it looks without thrust flight will not happen.
The principle works with people as well. Even if we have been designed for success if we don’t add thrust to our life we will not enjoy success like we want. Thrust is necessary for each of us. Just as thrust pushes a plane at an incredible speed down the runway through rain, wind and any obstacles. Thrust has the ability to push us to our dreams, push us past failures, disappointments and bad experiences. Make no mistake about it, thrust requires work. Pushing past the low points is one of the hardest things you can do. So the question becomes—are you doing something with your life that is worth pushing past the hard times? Thrust is pushing through after being told no several times, thrust is getting up after being knocked down several times, thrust is not giving up even though the outcome looks dismal.
We have seen it time and time again from successful people who have shown us the way. From Michael Jordan being cut by his high school team, Bill Gates failed businesses, Jim Carrey being homeless, Steven King’s first novel was rejected over 30 times, Thomas Edison numerous failures, Sidney Poitier flubbing lines, and Walt Disney being told he lacked creativity. Each of these individuals could have stopped, but they didn’t. Some people do not like to hear rejection or criticism so they hold themselves back from attempting their dreams. They hold back on the thrust so they don’t have to deal with the other things that go with success. They believe they would rather drive that plane on the highway in traffic than to soar above the clouds in open space.
Now there are a number of people who although they may not live their dream they live fairly well. They aren’t doing what they love but they are doing ok. However OK is the enemy to best. Bringing that dream to pass will give us a feeling like none other. As the saying goes—do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life. But in reality most people work years at a job they hate. While each day their dream begs them to do something to bring it to life. Each night their dream keeps them up at night begging to be birthed. Thrust will help you get started, thrust will keep you going after rejection, thrust will push you after people have giving up on you. Remember that next time something tries to bring you down.
— Photo: usnavy / flickr / creative commons license
I love the article.