I’m linking up again with Debbie over at Deb Runs for her Wednesday World weekly link up! Click on the image below to join in and see who else is linking up.
This week’s word is initiative. Merriam-Webster has this to say about initiative (as a noun):
1. The power or opportunity to do something before others do
2. The energy and desire that is needed to do something
3. A plan or program that is intended to solve a problem
For this post, I’m going to focus on the second definition: The energy and desire that is needed to do something. You’re not going to get anywhere in life without a little initiative. If you wait around for someone to tell you what to do, then that’s where you’ll always be – just waiting around. I think having initiative is about learning to think for yourself, be creative, and take action to achieve your goals.
A lot of success in life comes down to whether or not you’re willing to put in the work. Sure, there are always outside factors that we cannot control. But there’s a lot to be said for putting your mind to something and making it happen. You can look at something and say “well that’s impossible” but everything that’s been accomplished was probably thought impossible before the first person did it. If you look at a problem or situation with a little bit of optimism, you can figure out how to make it work or make it better. You can take the initiative to conquer it.
Running, and exercise in general, is a great lesson in initiative. You learn to be motivated, and you have to have the drive to take action. It’s easy to come home from work exhausted and plop down on the couch, but it takes a little moxie to make yourself do otherwise. But you’re better off for it.
What does initiative mean to you?
Turkey Runner 
Great perspective, as always!
Thanks!
Success does come down to hard work! Great attitude to have fun to find you in the link up today
You’re definitely not going to get anywhere without some hard work!
It’s really important to take control of your life (as much as you can!) and initiative is a huge part of that.
I agree!
I hear runners say all the time they just can’t get motivated to run by themselves.
I don’t understand it. Running by myself is not my favorite thing, but I do it all the time!
Sometimes you just have to do it! The folks at Nike area always telling us that 😉
Some people just don’t have the drive. I think that runners do, however. It’s simply required.
Runners are a special breed, and I think it shows in other aspects of our lives, too.
I like how you are able to redefine “impossible,” Meagan!
Something is only impossible until someone accomplishes it!
I love this! It’s funny because when you tell people you’re running a 5k/10k/half marathon/marathon, i think 9 times out of 10 people will ask why?!!! Most of them probably aren’t going to say, hey you should run 26.2 at one time! (Besides other runners:P). Plus I love the drive that I use in running, only makes it better and I can use it other areas as well!
There’s definitely a lot you learn in running that translates to other facets of our lives.
It’s hard to be a runner that runs pretty regular without that drive, without self-motivation without initiative wouldn’t you agree? This was a great word this week! Have a great one!
I agree, it would be very hard to keep a regular running schedule without all three of those!
Love how you describe initiative as “learning to think for yourself, be creative, and take action to achieve your goals.” Great interpretation as always!
Thanks for linking up!
Thanks for hosting! 🙂
The valuable steps without direction. I started pretraining for my actual marathon training, decided to take the initiative on that one 🙂
Always good to get into a routine before the routine begins! 🙂