We all are looking for success of one type or another.
Maybe you’re focused on personal success, becoming a better version of yourself in some way. Run faster. Think smarter. Live kinder.
Or maybe now is all about professional success. Achieving your dream job. Or a promotion. Or recognition of some sort that says “You’ve done it” — whatever laudatory “it” you’re pursuing in your career field.
And then, of course, there’s relational success — perhaps the most challenging of all pursuits. Lasting love. Healing of a broken relationship. Seeking to understand — or to be understood.
Striving for success is a virtual journey of sorts, one that requires effort. And change. And time.
There are days I feel like the kid stuck in the back seat of the car, watching the road signs pass by. You know, the one who keeps asking her parents, “Are we there yet?” And I keep hearing, “No. Not yet.”
There are no detours — no shortcuts — to success. I just have to do the work. Some days that’s easier than others (the days I see actual forward motion or some sort of tangible result of my efforts). Most days, though, I’m on a journey with no shortcuts. And the hardest part is staying the course and doing the work.
In Your Words: What’s the journey to success look like for you? Ever take any shortcuts or detours? How’d that work out for you?
Are we there yet? Success and Shortcuts Click to Tweet
The Myth of Shortcuts Click to Tweet
Ends 8/31/13 GIVEAWAY: Celebrating Book Clubs, Readers & Romance Click to Tweet
Comments 11
No, never found any shortcuts. Except for one, and that was the most important one of all.
I had thought that finding God was only possible at the end of a long apprenticeship of ‘spiritual stuff’; memorizing Bible verses, praise and worship, and so on.
All that stuff’s nice if you need it or want it, but it’s not necessary. God was walking behind me all the time, impatiently shaking His head, waiting for me to turn around.
It was kind of like, well, to get to my front door I can walk twenty feet east, or climb out the window and travel about 24,000 miles west. My choice.
Author
Ah, brilliant truth: legalism as a “shortcut” to a relationship with God.
Which results in no relationship at all.
Great post, today. One thought that came to mind is that when we take shortcuts we lose the opportunity to grow our character in a positive direction. Our character grows, but not necessarily well.
When I have tried shortcuts, they don’t give me what I hoped they would. I’ve learned to enjoy the process and choose to learn from it.
Author
You are a wise woman, friend.
Of course, I knew that.
🙂
“Do the work.” That’s really a great motto in general. 🙂
Yeah, shortcuts…they only time I like them is when they include bypasses that keep you from driving through downtown traffic. Haha! But seriously, I love your post and I love what Jeanne said…shortcuts often nix the opportunity to mature because we’re in such a hurry getting to whatever “there” we’re looking for that we miss the good, growing stuff along the way.
Author
I’m all for shortcuts around stop and go (or all stop) traffic. That’s just plain smart.
But I don’t want to bypass the path God has me on — and I don’t want to skip out on the lessons he has for me, either. (And yes, I wrote that, all the while thinking: But some of those lessons are painful, hard lessons.)
Love this and totally needed the reminder today. I am not there ‘yet’. Sometimes I wonder if I ever will be! It is hard to stay the course and do the work. But I also need to remember the work is for God. Not me. Not to please anyone else. Just for God. Thanks, Beth!
Author
Hi, Jill:
You know, I needed the reminder too — earlier this week. And last week. And last month.
🙂
Some shortcuts are great, like going across the park instead of around it.
Or praying to wake up 35 lbs lighter instead of putting down the chocolate…
But avoiding the “go back and start over” because we want to pretend the MS is perfect??
That attitude means we allow our good-est to come up short of our best.
Short-cuts don’t usually turn out right. GOD has His own path for us to follow. And, it is aaalways better His way. Beth, I have never found a way to enter your give-away and it is almost over. Everything leads to Twitter, and never says blog or Facebook. Do we get left out? Just wondering. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
You’re right, Beth … shortcuts don’t work. They waste time and energy and are usually all about my will, not his. This reminds me of when our daughter used to ask her dad to take the longcut. Not sure what that was, but she loved going on it. Guess it’s best if I learn to love it too. 🙂