The dictionary says that passion is "a strong emotion, an ardent love; zeal; eager desire, hope and joy." It has been my observation that in every field of endeavor, the people who reach the mountaintops of life have a passion to give their all and be the best they can be.

For example, the Founding Fathers of our country were passionate believers in freedom. Honoré Gabriel Riqueti said, "None but men of strong passions are capable of rising to greatness." Alfred, Lord Tennyson said, "The happiness of a man in his life does not consist in the absence but in the mastering of his passions." Benjamin Franklin said, "He is a governor that governs his passions, and he is a servant that serves them."

It has been my observation that directed passion — founded on an ethical moral base — enables people to utilize their full potential with awesome results. The reason is clear. With integrity, you have nothing to fear because you have nothing to hide. Fear is a heavy burden to carry, and it stifles creativity and burns energy, which we need to achieve maximum results.

To be candid, I am a man of passion, and I have a conviction that passion, like courage, is transferable. So one of my objectives in life is to transfer some of my passions — as well as the passions of the people you meet in this column — to you. In order to accomplish that objective, I write from my head and heart to your head and heart because the head is the gateway to the heart. I try to inform you logically and inspire you emotionally because I believe with this approach, you'll be moved to recognize, develop and use what is inside you and become the best you can be.

When you do that, I truthfully can say that I will see you at the top!

It's OK To Be Negative

I believe that it is OK to be negative. To those of you who know me, that probably sounds like a stunning statement, but I really do believe it's fine to be negative, pessimistic and discouraged, and I understand how a person could acquire those feelings and attitudes. Your past could well have dealt you a series of crushing blows.

If that is the case, don't beat up on yourself for having those negative thoughts and feelings. It's even OK to blame someone else for your feelings and where you are in life at this moment. However, you must force yourself to think about this: Blaming others for your problems is not going to solve those problems. However, blaming others will help remove those feelings of guilt that you might be carrying, and guilt really is a heavy load. So blaming others is the first step.

Now think about this: If someone else is responsible for your problems of the past and even the present, surely you are not going to let that person foul up your future — are you? Once you've taken that step, you're ready for step No. 2, which is to forgive your abuser. Step No. 3 is to accept responsibility for your future.

In simple terms, I am saying that you must make friends with your past so that you can focus on the present and make your future all it can be. That is a "must-do" if you're going to make your future better than your past. Next, to make that future better, you need to get into a goal-setting mode because it has been said that those who do not plan for the future are not interested in the future. The very fact that you've read this column indicates to me you're interested, so develop a plan of action, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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