Making E.F.F.O.R.T.!

Making E.F.F.O.R.T.!

By Allen Merritt ©2018

Effort.

I have been thinking about that word.

Look it up in the dictionary and it references the idea of being determined and attempting to accomplish and/or achieve.

Effort.  E-F-F-O-R-T.  Effort.

There isn’t any indication of any resulting success from said attempt(s). It only mentions the idea of working toward something. At the same time, the idea doesn’t say one will not succeed. What it does indicate is making an attempt with full intent and purpose. In other words, it suggests working with the right attitude and frame of mind. It’s an action word. It isn’t sedentary. It even sounds robust, no?

Effort is what turning things around from negative to positive is all about. It helps focus on what is good and true when we are in our right mind. Effort forces one to seek new perspectives. I would say effort is what positivity is founded upon or at the very least is a key ingredient.

If the word “effort” were used as an acronym to help define and remind us of its meaning, I would break it down as follows.

E.F.F.O.R.T.

Effectively Focusing First On Rightly Thinking.

Sounds a bit like Buddhist philosophy, doesn’t it? I bet the Dali Lama or Thich Nhat Hahn would appreciate such an acronym. In any case, I think our Western brains could benefit from remembering and applying such an acronym to our daily practice of living, loving and learning.

It begins with changing your mind; turning your thinking around into something good. The first thing we must do is alter our thinking.

For example, if you are having what most would call a bad day, make the effort to creating a better day. Of course, sometimes going with the flow is the answer, but overall it is a conscious choice and chore to turn your mental faculties toward changing the circumstances from worse to better.

Something as simple as looking for the good in someone else you generally have a distaste for may produce a better appreciation for that person and lighten the time you are around them.

Solving problems or resolving a conflict all start with seeing things anew and that takes effort.

I know people who refuse to consider talking to someone and holding a grudge for years rather than reach out and find clarification or common ground. As often as not, the reason for the grudge was over simple pettiness.

Consider this, since we only have a little bit of time to make things happen on this planet, why not take a stronger stance to being more present and involved with helping improve everything we come across?

When it comes to experiencing positivity in motion, the idea of making an effort, putting your best foot forward and changing your perspective is the perfect place to jump off from.  

As a source of encouragement, here are some quotes by well known people supporting the “effort” mentality.

• Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential. – Winston Churchill
• Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory. Mahatma Gandhi
• Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. – Arnold Palmer
• Sometimes, things may not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night. – Michael Jordan

You can read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/effort.

I hope that this week provides us all with an opportunity to put our best foot forward and make stronger effort to be the best we can be at all times.

Remember the word “effort” as an acronym to guide us through each day.

E.F.F.O.R.T.

Effectively Focusing First On Rightly Thinking.

Thanks for all you are and all you do to create a positive environment to promote better well being.

Go out there and live life on a positive note.

Cheers!