Finding Value in the Moments by John C. Shin

One of my greatest desires is to find value in the moments that make up my day. I strive to maximize opportunities as they come up and take action whenever possible. When I set these intentions, I accomplish more, feel better, and consistently advance toward my goals. By breaking things down to this lowest common denominator and living life moment by moment, my life has changed for the better. 

Without desire, shepherding an idea from development to the finish line is unlikely. Desire is a driving force. It stimulates our imagination and fuels us to move forward, to gather information, and to act. 

Napoleon Hill was a master at explaining the basic principles of success. He surrounded himself with successful people, extracted their knowledge about success, and created a path for others to follow. 

He recognized how negativity and the day-to-day struggle for survival can sap our energy and extinguish our desires. But he also saw how successful people funnel energy into success, achievements, and the pursuit of their dreams.  

Like everyone, I don’t enjoy every job I must do. But I do them anyway, having learned that even seemingly mundane tasks develop a work ethic that leads to more significant opportunities like my role as the executive producer of the movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, a docudrama based on Hill’s book. 

My involvement with this exciting project started when I read the book, but it was my desire to do something more that led to this fantastic life experience.  

Desire is the spark that ignites us and takes us from dreaming to doing. Desire is powerful! Let’s break it down. 

D = Dreams 

All achievements are created twice. First, in the mind of the creator. Then, in tangible form. 

A book begins as a collection of thoughts and ideas. A building starts as a vision in the mind of the architect. The Wright brothers dreamed of flying. Their desire to achieve something that everyone else thought was impossible helped them overcome every obstacle in their path. We all know how that story ended. 

Embrace your dreams. Let your imagination soar. Dreams are the foundation of desire. In dreams, nothing is impossible. 

E = Energy 

Desire is such a dominant force because it contains energy. Energy has the power to move us. It has the power to uproot mountains, literally. Energy provides heat, light, and sound. It stirs the senses and touches our souls. It’s like a magnet that attracts what we want if we are open to giving and receiving it. 

S = Spirit 

When you watch young children playing, you’re witnessing pure spirit in action. Spirit is the carefree attitude that places you squarely in the moment without regard for what anyone else thinks. Spirit is your life force on display, a pipeline to your soul. 

We desire things because they resonate with us, stir our emotions, energize us, and lift our spirits. 

I = Individual 

Every human being is unique, even identical twins. Every desire is also individual, though on the surface they may appear to be the same. You may desire a red Ferrari like the one your neighbor has, or a car like one you saw driving down the road, or a car you have on your dream board. Underlying your desires for this car are unique reasons why. Desire is personal and specific to the individual. 

Be clear about the reasons why you desire something, and disregard all others. When you do, the intensity of your desire grows. 

R = Riches 

What does being rich mean to you? For most people, it involves money. All the money in the world doesn’t equate to happiness and is generally a poor measurement of success. Less is, quite often, more. 

Richness may mean freedom, the flexibility of working for yourself or working from home. Riches could be a close family, being surrounded by people you love. Or pursuing your dreams, accomplishing your goals, knowing who you are, and being at peace with yourself. Or it could be money. Lots and lots of money. And that’s okay too. 

E = Execution 

All your wants, wishes, and plans are worthless without execution. Until you put the wheels in motion and begin creating a tangible version of your dream, it will remain locked in your mind. The tragedy is that unrealized desires don’t benefit anyone, including yourself. 

So, take that first step. Get in touch with your inner child, the kid who did everything with great enthusiasm and spirit! You can do it again. 

Desire leads to a belief, which leads to action. It provides the necessary support to square off with fear and takes it down with a solid one-two punch. Best of all, clearly defined desire adds energy to your dreams and moves you toward them with clarity and conviction. 

Pick up your copy of John C. Shin’s How Rich Asians Think: A Think and Grow Rich Publication, an official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation, from these and other fine retailers: 

Amazon: http://ow.ly/uwqA50xDAiH 
Barnes & Noble: http://ow.ly/5P2R50xDAiG 
Books-a-Million: http://ow.ly/WCp050xDAiJ 
Porchlight Books: http://ow.ly/C37550xDAiI