What is Ambition?
“Ambition is the generator that drives motivation and instigates the will to succeed”
-Audrey Marlene
Ambition is a burning desire to achieve something. Whether it’s to lose weight, gain financial freedom, get a job promotion, or get a better education. You can have ambitions not only for yourself but for the people you love, for your children, your family. His ambition for them drives him to help them excel.
When you are ambitious, you have a vision. You see your life in a certain way. You dream of your future and hope to aspire to your ambitions. Feel the urge to act. You feel an emptiness inside you that encourages you to rise to a higher level of existence.
Your ambitions will not allow you to become complacent or settle for less. Even when adversities arise, the ambitious person will eventually rekindle that ambitious flame. His year to climb the ladder of success and achieve the vision he has for himself. When you are ambitious, you are constantly on the lookout for opportunities that will take you to the next level. You feel a restlessness to investigate, to investigate. Your thirst for learning and knowledge intensifies.
Is ambition inherited or a learned behavior?
There has been a great deal of research on the subject of nature versus nurture on personality traits. There are studies that support the strong genetic influence on personality traits such as ambition. However, the environment can also play an important role in one’s level of ambition. IMHO, I think one’s degree of ambition is a combination of genetics and environment.
There may be situations where one inherits a fair share of the ambitious gene (if such a gene exists), but circumstances may arise in their lives that may suppress their ambitions. Or there may be someone who did not inherit that ambitious gene, but because he was raised or exposed to a goal-oriented environment, his level of ambition was allowed to flourish.
If you inherit your parents’ level of ambition, be grateful and improve it as best you can. For those who can feel that ambitious spark burning inside of them but someone or something stifles it, find out how you can get out of those kinds of situations. If you recognize that it is indeed your level of ambition that needs to be addressed, look for ways to improve it. Remember, your success in life is determined first by how ambitious you are.
Factors Influencing Ambition
Here are some factors to be aware of that can negatively influence your level of ambition:
Stress- Stress comes in many different forms. Physical or psychological stress can paralyze you and rob you of your ambitions. If you think stress is stifling your ambitions, find ways to learn how to deal with stress.
Illness- Illness in any physical or mental form can influence your ability to function at your full potential. Therefore, it is essential that you pay special attention to your health. If some kind of illness gets in the way of your ambitions, seek the help you need to succeed over it.
emotional trauma- Emotional trauma psychologically affects the human spirit. It inhibits the ability to recognize any talents or ambitions you may have. This is an area you need to attend to if you are looking to rise to your level of ambition. Click here to analyze your emotional health. If you recognize that your emotions are getting in the way of your ambitions, it may be time to address and resolve the issues that stand in your way.
Friends and Associations- Without realizing it, the company you keep can greatly influence your ambitions. Think about it. If you hang out with unmotivated and lackadaisical people, after a while you begin to adapt to their behavior. If you associate with motivated, goal-seeking people, your ambitions are more likely to be sparked. Do an analysis of the company you keep. Are their behaviors rubbing off on you, for better or worse?
Drugs and alcohol- It’s no secret what drugs and alcohol can do to your life. Although you have been given a great genetic and ambitious character, drugs and alcohol can undermine it. You must learn to discard these behaviors that can lower your level of ambition. If you feel like drugs and alcohol are stifling your ambitions, get the help you need right away.
Guide- Lack or the wrong orientation can interfere with your ambitions. If you follow the wrong advice, you may fail in the task you undertake. This can demotivate you, lowering your confidence and level of ambition. Learn to do the research for yourself. There is so much information available to you today. Always get an objective second opinion before proceeding with anything.
How to improve ambition
A life coach- A life coach can help you organize your life and clear away all the cobwebs so you can begin to peel back the layers that bury your ambition. Remember that your success starts with the level of ambition you have.
Your Associations- Analyze the people you interact with. If these people aren’t helping you rise to a higher level of ambition, think about finding new people to associate with. Start hanging out with people who are optimistic about your future, who are goal-oriented, and who make a positive contribution to your life. Avoid people who inject negative poisons into your psyche.
Read books- Read inspiring triumphant books about the indomitable human spirit within you. Also, read books and material about people who have achieved success. Let this information spark your ambitions.
Waiting Seminars- Attend seminars on motivation. These seminars have a tendency to rekindle the sparks of ambition that reside within you. At these seminars and workshops you also have the opportunity to meet ambitious people and experience the synergy that surrounds them.
Selectively share your ambitions- There may be times in your life when your ambitions start to wake up and you feel motivated to do something with your life. When you feel that your ambitions move you, be selective with whom you will share these ideas. Share them with people who will support you or give you the constructive feedback you need to carry out your ambitious plans.
For example, Uncle Ted, a real pessimist, finds out about your plans and immediately starts pouring cold water on your ambitious spirit. Actually, he has never aspired to greatness in his life, but he always seems to have a lot to add to his creative ideas. Also, his co-workers who are already jealous of you for whatever reason may want to sabotage you by minimizing whatever creative ideas his ambitions have prompted you to generate.
Ambition drives motivation, determination and all the ingredients to achieve success in your life. Take this opportunity to analyze your level of ambition. If you really want to achieve success in your life, you must realize that it is your ambition that creates the longing. Your level of ambition prevents you from settling for mediocrity. Your level of ambition will determine who you or your children will become.
What is your level of ambition? How do you perceive your ambition? Define your ambition. What do you aspire to for yourself and your children? Start today to examine your level of ambition.