Meaningful Effort

Choose to do what you believe in, and then put the full power of your belief behind what you are doing. Follow what you are passionate about, and give the energy of your passion to it.

That might mean making big external changes in what you’re doing with your life. Or it could mean making changes that are more internal, in how you think about and relate to what you’re doing.

Meaningful effort is not just an idealistic concept, and not just for a lucky few. It produces practical, valuable results, and is attainable by anyone.

Doing what you believe in does not mean you must quit your job or walk away from your responsibilities. Following your passion is not necessarily a matter of abandoning the commonsense, practical considerations in your life.

It is much more a matter of your expectations, your motivations, and your attitude in every moment. Though it may be challenging, you can find a way to express your highest values, and to follow your deepest passions, in any circumstance.

Resolve to meet that challenge, and to do what you do in such a way that you can truly believe in it. Make every effort a meaningful effort, and enable those efforts to produce great and satisfying results.

— Ralph Marston