Emotions are the most  powerful forces inside us. Under the power of emotions, human beings can  perform the most heroic (as well as barbaric) acts. To a great degree,  civilization itself can be defined as the intelligent channeling of human  emotion. Emotions are fuel and the mind is the pilot, which together propel the  ship of civilized progress.

Which emotions cause  people to act? There are four basic ones; each, or a combination of several,  can trigger the most incredible activity. The day that you allow these emotions  to fuel your desire is the day you'll turn your life around.

1) DISGUST

One does not usually  equate the word "disgust" with positive action. And yet, properly  channeled, disgust can change a person's life. The person who feels disgusted has  reached a point of no return. He or she is ready to throw down the gauntlet at  life and say, "I've had it!" That's what I said after many  humiliating experiences at age 25. I said, "I don't want to live like this  anymore. I've had it with being broke. I've had it with being embarrassed, and  I've had it with lying."

Yes, productive  feelings of disgust come when a person says, "Enough is enough."

The "guy"  has finally had it with mediocrity. He's had it with those awful sick feelings  of fear, pain and humiliation. He then decides he is “not going to live like  this anymore." Look out! This could be the day that turns a life around.  Call it what you will, the "I've had it" day, the "never  again" day, the "enough's enough" day. Whatever you call it,  it's powerful! There is nothing so life-changing as gut-wrenching disgust!

2) DECISION

Most of us need to be  pushed to the wall to make decisions. And once we reach this point, we have to  deal with the conflicting emotions that come with making them. We have reached  a fork in the road. Now this fork can be a two-pronged, three-pronged, or even  a four-pronged fork. No wonder decision-making can create knots in stomachs,  keep us awake in the middle of the night, or make us break out in a cold sweat.

Making life-changing  decisions can be likened to internal civil war. Conflicting armies of emotions,  each with its own arsenal of reasons, battle each other for supremacy of our  minds. And our resulting decisions, whether bold or timid, well-thought-out or  impulsive, can either set the course of action or blind it. I don't have much  advice to give you about decision-making except this:

Whatever you do,  don't camp at the fork in the road. Decide. It's far better to make a wrong  decision than to not make one at all. Each of us must confront our emotional  turmoil and sort out our feelings.

3) DESIRE

How does one gain  desire? I don't think I can answer this directly because there are many ways.  But I do know two things about desire:

a. It comes from the  inside, not the outside.
  b. It can be  triggered by outside forces.

Almost anything can  trigger desire. It's a matter of timing as much as preparation. It might be a  song that tugs at the heart. It might be a memorable sermon. It might be a  movie, a conversation with a friend, a confrontation with the enemy, or a  bitter experience. Even a book or an article such as this one can trigger the  inner mechanism that will make some people say, "I want it now!"

Therefore, while  searching for your "hot button" of pure, raw desire, welcome into  your life each positive experience. Don't erect a wall to protect you from  experiencing life. The same wall that keeps out your disappointment also keeps  out the sunlight of enriching experiences. So let life touch you. The next  touch could be the one that turns your life around.

4) RESOLVE

Resolve says, "I  will." These two words are among the most potent in the English language.  I WILL. Benjamin Disraeli, the great British statesman, once said,  "Nothing can resist a human will that will stake even its existence on the  extent of its purpose." In other words, when someone resolves to "do  or die," nothing can stop him.

The mountain climber  says, "I will climb the mountain. They've told me it's too high, it's too  far, it's too steep, it's too rocky, it's too difficult. But it's my mountain.  I will climb it. You'll soon see me waving from the top or you'll never see me,  because unless I reach the peak, I'm not coming back." Who can argue with  such resolve?

When confronted with  such iron-willed determination, I can see Time, Fate and Circumstance calling a  hasty conference and deciding, "We might as well let him have his dream.  He's said he's going to get there or die trying."

The best definition  for "resolve" I've ever heard came from a schoolgirl in Foster City, California.  As is my custom, I was lecturing about success to a group of bright kids at a  junior high school. I asked, "Who can tell me what ‘resolve’ means?"  Several hands went up, and I did get some pretty good definitions. But the last  was the best. A shy girl from the back of the room got up and said with quiet  intensity, "I think resolve means promising yourself you will never give  up." That's it! That's the best definition I've ever heard: PROMISE  YOURSELF YOU'LL NEVER GIVE UP.

Think about it! How  long should a baby try to learn how to walk? How long would you give the  average baby before you say, "That's it, you've had your chance"? You  say that's crazy? Of course it is. Any mother would say, "My baby is going  to keep trying until he learns how to walk!" No wonder everyone walks.

There is a vital  lesson in this. Ask yourself, "How long am I going to work to make my  dreams come true?" I suggest you answer, "As long as it takes."  That's what these four emotions are all about.

— Jim Rohn

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