Continuous Renewal

“Continuous renewal is an umbrella term for anything you can do to keep in touch with your values and your life purpose. This is a discipline that all successful people fashion for themselves. The will to win – the will to achieve – goes dry and arid without continuous renewal.” – Vince Lombardi

I am a big believer in the idea that we have to continually try to better ourselves. A lot of people get upset because they have one great day and they are discouraged the following day when it’s bad. People would like to think that happiness is a destination and once it is achieved or reached that it is supposed to be eternal. However, as I have mentioned before, excellence and happiness is a habit. It is a continuous effort that you have to put in. I relate this back to my career as a teacher. I cannot just get a degree and teach the rest of my life. I have to continuously learn and take classes, attend seminars etc. in order to remain a teacher. If I want to remain happy, I have to continue pursuing my dreams, achieving my goals, striving to be the best I can be as a person, developing my relationships, helping others etc.

I love the part that Vince Lomardi mentions the will to achieve and win go dry and arid without continuous renewal. When I was in college I got more caught up in partying and hanging out and lost track of my goals, dreams and aspirations. It was a rude awakening when I realized that I looked forward more to the night life of partying rather than being a model citizen, working for my future, pursuing my dreams and just being a good person. It wasn’t until I had to physically remove myself from those surrounding that I was able to realize this. I know a lot of people struggle with making change. I know deep down they want to change but can’t. I see them have good days and bad days. One day of hope has a lot of power but it cannot single-handedly solve your problems. Discipline and perseverance are key to mastering yourself. One day of positive thinking isn’t enough to change. It is a continuous struggle and fight that you have to WANT.