German author and playwright Goethe wrote, “Let the great work begin!” The great work in his case, and in the case of a great hitter, is the same: what are the specific ways in which to think, act and become our best self? Done with sufficient vigor, the endeavor of the great work yields the full, complete and maximal development of both a hitter and of a man. Greek philosopher Aristotle called this attainment “entelechy.”
The state of entelechy is one devoid of doubt, fear, hesitation or worry. It is a mindset in which there is no conflict: a great hitter and a great man knows his path and proceeds forthwith to achieve his goals and fulfill his purpose. Do not think the path easy, however. It is fraught with pitfalls, hurdles and obstacles. There will be strikeouts and ground-outs and fly-outs; walks and hit-by-pitches; foul tips and swings-and-misses. Each bit of misfortune along the way merely adds to the lure of the potential prize – a dash of disappointment sweetens the pot of gold when it is finally attained.
Stay the path and continue your work. It is a great and noble journey and it is all about the effort. Strive, toil, persist and persevere. A great hitter is a rare occurrence, because so few continue the difficult work. Begin now, and work without ceasing until you become great.
From November 2010, http://raisingahitter.wordpress.com
The state of entelechy is one devoid of doubt, fear, hesitation or worry. It is a mindset in which there is no conflict: a great hitter and a great man knows his path and proceeds forthwith to achieve his goals and fulfill his purpose. Do not think the path easy, however. It is fraught with pitfalls, hurdles and obstacles. There will be strikeouts and ground-outs and fly-outs; walks and hit-by-pitches; foul tips and swings-and-misses. Each bit of misfortune along the way merely adds to the lure of the potential prize – a dash of disappointment sweetens the pot of gold when it is finally attained.
Stay the path and continue your work. It is a great and noble journey and it is all about the effort. Strive, toil, persist and persevere. A great hitter is a rare occurrence, because so few continue the difficult work. Begin now, and work without ceasing until you become great.
From November 2010, http://raisingahitter.wordpress.com