* How To Find Motivation And Inspiration From Your Heroes

By Keith A. Shaw, President, Mind Body Spirit Central.com and SelfGrowth Motivation Expert

See all Articles by Keith ShawSee Keith Shaw's Expert PageGet Updates on MotivationGet Updates on Keith Shaw

It is a fact of life that every one of us are going to experience temporary setbacks as we move towards our goals and objectives. Yes, both you and me. In fact, I have developed quite a list! As much as we plan and guard against them, we let them get out of our control - so that they control us instead of us controlling them. When these tough times occur, the person who faces the time when everything seems against them; finds courage within; drives away all destructive thinking; and upholds their self respect and integrity is MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED.

We have all heard the simple saying, "Where there is a will, there is a way." The reason is the will CAN make a way - when given the chance to secure the assistance of the things that lead to success. The more your will is developed the higher the way to which it will lead. When everything looks gloomy and discouraging, that is the exact time to show what you are made of.

One of the things that works to motivate me, time and time again, is hearing and reading about the stories of others – particularly my heroes, both from my youth and the present day.

A few years ago, I had the thrilling pleasure of meeting and having dinner with one of my childhood heroes, Rocky Bleier. For those of you who do not know who he is, here’s an overview of him and the obstacles he overcame.

Rocky attended the University of Notre Dame where he was a standout running back for the Fighting Irish’s Football Team. Now this was in the late 1960’s at the height of the Vietnam War, and Rocky was drafted into the U.S. Army. While on patrol in Vietnam, he was severely wounded in both legs and both feet and was told that he would never walk again, let alone play the game of football. For the next two years as he recovered from his injuries, through determination, intestinal fortitude (i.e., guts) and courage, Bleier did not allow gloom and discouragement to weigh down his goal of playing professionally in the National Football League.

Rocky recovered and went on to successfully play with the Pittsburgh Steelers for nearly ten years. He also set several team records that still stand today. Mr. Bleier’s story was so inspiring that a made-for-television movie told his story to the masses. He now runs his own motivational speaking company.

Look at your own heroes and see what drove them to excel and overcome desperate times. Find confidence in the fact that you CAN take control of any situation, no matter how challenging, as if the end result of your goal is already in your grasp.

Copyright 2007 by Keith A. Shaw and Mind Body Spirit Central.com, LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this article may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, audio or video recording, or otherwise – without the written permission of the author and publisher.