Success Demands Mind, Heart, and Will
Posted by Orrin Woodward on January 11, 2012
True success demands engaging the mind, heart, and will into your work. So many attempt to shortcut this process, but to no avail. Here is a section from my new book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions For LIFE, explaining the importance of full engagement of the mind, heart, and will. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward
Mind, Heart, and Will
If success was as simple as writing out a few resolutions and studying them daily, wouldn’t more people apply this method to become successful? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why few achieve lasting success, “Man is a wonderful creature, he is mind, he is heart, and he is will. Those are the three main constituents of man. God has given him a mind, He has given him a heart, He has given him a will whereby he can act.” Transforming a life then, requires the whole person to be involved – his mind, his heart, and his will must be engaged in the process. True change isn’t just a mental (mind) assent, it isn’t just an emotional (heart) experience, and it’s more than just regimented (will) learning. For some will read the resolutions, make a mental nod of approval but won’t involve the heart or will. Even though they claim a knowledge of how to succeed in life, they never seem to achieve anything. To know and not to do is really not to know, since if one knew how satisfying authentic success would be, one wouldn’t delay in striving towards it. Resolutions must engage the mind, but must go beyond it, tapping into the heart and will to produce lasting real change.
Without uniting the mind, heart and will together, people will not achieve their desired results. For example, many who attend seminars have their hearts touched by the message, but don’t seem to comprehend mentally (mind) or follow-through physically (will) on the plan for success. These people jump from one achievement fad to another, gaining emotional (heart) releases, but accomplish little of real substance. Life has been hard on them, so they attend another fad seminar, seeking, not real change, but a cathartic release of tension. Another group of people study the resolutions, attempting to transform themselves through sheer willpower, but unless the mind and heart are engaged, it cannot last. This group attempts to take up the resolutions, rather than being taken up by them. The will, by itself, can go through the motions, but without the heart and mind, the passion and understanding involved, the process lacks zeal. It’s like the old saying, “A man or woman convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” A methodical, passionless, robotic-like study of the resolutions will not get the job done.
It’s only with a mind that understands, a heart that generates passion, and a disciplined will to follow through, that change is generated inside a person. Sadly, most success seeker’s journey will end in disappointment having made the common mistake of compartmentalizing the parts of a person rather than allowing them to work together. The good news, however, is that anyone can develop the ability to work on the mind, heart, and will simultaneously. The process is simple, but certainly not easy, requiring immense discipline to marry the three constituent parts together in the pursuit of excellence in any area that a person has resolved to change. By thinking seriously about where to focus, writing out clear resolutions, resolving to read, and apply them on a consistent basis, anybody can, like Washington, Franklin, and Edwards, resolve to change. Moreover, when a person changes himself, he begins a process that ultimately transforms the world around him.
10 Responses to “Success Demands Mind, Heart, and Will”
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Maribel Damphousse said
This is truly one of the biggest challenge I’m experiencing in the process of changing to have success. It requires disciple, focus and the courage to battle distractions, obstacles, life situations, excuses that the mind, the heart and the will, if not harnessed to pursue excellence, conjure to slow us down, discourage us or even the possibility of throwing in the towel. I’m thankful for the LIFE TEAM association, the information from the system through CDs and books, the blogs, the EBC, etc and the mentors who are available for anyone who wish to move on and continue the fight to become a better person. With God’s grace, He has blessed us with a community where we are encouraged, inspired, and strengthened to keep on going. God bless!
Tim McNeil said
Orrin, in October of 2010 I began a prayerful search for “a better way”. Through a series of events that seemed unconnected at the time, my wife Tammy and I reluctantly went to an open meeting, and we began to see our prayers being answered in a wonderful way through this amazing community and it’s opportunity. You, Chris and the rest of the PC are doing a great work here that will have a positive effect not only in the lives of the members of Team/LIFE but on our countries (US & Canada) and eventually the world. The LORD is using your efforts in a very powerful way and I thank HIM and You!
With Love in Christ,
Tim & Tammy McNeil
Team Action
Jason Frega (@JasonFrega) said
I was just sharing the concepts with some folks yesterday. Extremely important and helpful stuff. Thanks for taking the time to post it as well so now I have a link to share!
I am absolutely LOVING “RESOLVED”. I loved LLR a lot as well, but something about RESOLVED is ringing differently in my mind.
justin said
great post orrin, i strive to learn more and more everyday about principles and how important they are in life
Michelle Hamilton said
Orrin, thank you so much for this post. I know I need to work on all three together and not let the negative obsticles in life stand in my way! Friday night was amazing by the way!
Kevin Hamm said
Orrin,
How many favorite chapters can I have in a book. It is great how these three work together, hmm, Character, Task and Relationships; IQ, EQ, WQ and now Mind, Heart, Will. Looks like Leadership runs in groups of three. Good stuff, any way you look at it.
Kevin Hamm
Cathy Kilpatrick Leadership said
Awesome, Orrin, just like the book it came from!
AndyJDaniels said
Reblogged this on AndyJDaniels Leadership and commented:
I love Orrin’s new book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE. It’s a must read for anyone on the life journey!
pappabiggs said
Reblogged this on pappabiggs.
Ross Goldsmith said
Thanks Orrin. I am still working on getting my 3 aligned. It is a process and a journey and even though I sometimes wish for a shortcut or the easy road, I know as I continue to learn and grow my journey and experiences will be that much greater. Thanks again