Written by: Vince Morales, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Determination is one of the most powerful things a person can have. In the psychological memoir by Viktor Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning,” he recounted his abysmal memories during the Holocaust and ultimately how he survived it. Frankl’s book is about a person’s ultimate purpose in life – finding meaning that is strong and deep enough to bear and survive against all odds.
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how’” – Viktor Frankl
For Viktor Frankl and the others who survived the Holocaust, despite the gruesome tragedy they all went through, it was having found more significant meaning in life that sustained them through the harshness of the whole ordeal of the Holocaust.
Thankfully, few of us will ever have to deal with the suffering of the scope or intensity experienced by those subjected to horrors such as the Holocaust.
However, the writings of Frankl and the written and verbal recollections of those who have, give us great insight into the power of the human spirit.
In our pursuit of those things we want and even love, it is inevitable to face and have to overcome obstacles. Obstacles can be in many forms; they are essentially hardships that could keep us from achieving our goal or anything that makes our pursuit so tricky that it may have us giving up.
When we go through suffering, it is not only our innate pain threshold that determines our survival. More importantly, our spirit’s determination to survive and to rise may or may not allow us to live and succeed.
Whether it is life or death that is on the line or the realization of our dreams is what is at stake, there is a level of determination that we need to get to empower us to do whatever it takes. Once we get to this level of determination, we are relentless and unstoppable, and we can make almost anything happen in our lives.
What is Your Level of Determination?
Are you determined enough to succeed? Determination is not a trait to be ignored. When people have it, they are essentially unstoppable. When people lack it or choose not to apply it, regardless of their true abilities and skills, they will still live below their potential.
Determination is one of the essential traits of a person in pursuit of success, and it is something that comes from within. Fortunately, regardless of what level you are currently at, a determination is something developed and strengthened.
Like so many personality ‘traits’ that determine our psychological makeup, a determination is not a talent but a skill that can be learned and improved with practice.
It is essential to build our determination when pursuing our goals and dreams in life because pain and adversity are inevitable. Only by solid determination can we get past these challenges that could hold us back. Determination is a powerful ally to have in this uncertain life.
Why Determination Matters to Your Success
If you want to succeed, have goals to pursue, and have a certain level of achievement that you are aiming for in life, then a determination is a vital trait to acquire and develop. You rarely hear of successful people who are not determined.
Successful people are always ready to face life challenges with enthusiasm and unwavering passion. They seem invincible, even if they are not, and it is difficult not to admire and be inspired by that.
While determination is essential to achieving our big ‘success’ goals, there are more reasons why determination is critical to your future success.
Determination makes you good at solving problems
Regardless of what you have on your plate, determination allows you to see through any kind of challenge with a focused frame of mind. Determination lets you zero in on the problem and maintain a laser-like focus while dealing with the issue. Eventually, this empowers you to find solutions, and with more practice, you become even better at solving problems.
Determination makes you follow through and complete things
If it were only up to your comfort zone, you would be by the beach, sipping cocktails, and relaxing, rather than dealing with an impending problem. Our minds have a way of trying to protect us from discomfort or perceived danger. Yet, here you are, determined to follow through it all, and because of your determination, you cannot help but be a finisher. You finish things, and that is great!
Determination builds up your strength and character
The best thing about sticking to a firm resolve and being determined against all the odds is that deep down, it works for you. Determination builds up your character and brings out your hidden inner strength. Emotional strength, or resilience, like a muscle, gets stronger the more you use it. The more determination you have, the stronger you are, and the stronger you become.
Determination allows you to thrive in uncertainty and frail conditions
We become more robust and better when we throw ourselves valiantly enough to overcome a challenge. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” applies here.
Determination will help you thrive in uncertain and not-so-ideal situations, so you can better deal with future challenges enabling you to survive and thrive.
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Vince Morales, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Vince Morales is a mindset, self-image, and resilience coach. In addition, he is skilled in leadership consultation and development. From April 2016 to June 2017, Vince was a homeless veteran in San Diego, CA. While homeless he made a powerful decision to change his thinking and mindset launching into life coaching. He developed a niche for resilience and mindset coaching. The growth of his business ultimately led to the end of his homelessness. Vince is the Founder of Validus Coaching & Consulting, formerly Zoe Transformation. His story has been featured in online articles and online news outlets all over the U.S. He is a certified John Maxwell Team Coach, Trainer, & Speaker as well as a motivational speaker. In 2021, Vince earned his Master's degree in Psychology of Leadership from Penn State University and is currently a doctoral student pursuing a Ph.D. in Performance Psychology. He is a 2020 inductee into The National Society of Leadership and Success.
