Comments on: Are Ambition and Gratitude Mutually Exclusive? http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:44:23 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Changing Your Luck | Self Help Station http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-58763 Changing Your Luck | Self Help Station Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:49:23 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-58763 [...] encounter them, while unlucky people do not. Wiseman performed a test in which he asked both fortunate and unfortunate people to search through a newspaper and find out how many photographs were [...] [...] encounter them, while unlucky people do not. Wiseman performed a test in which he asked both fortunate and unfortunate people to search through a newspaper and find out how many photographs were [...]

]]> By: John Wesley http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-11151 John Wesley Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:31:21 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-11151 I believe you can feel varying degrees of both at the same time, but that one always dominates the other. You can never feel both equally in the same instant. Ambition is driven by hunger, while gratefulness is driven by feeling full. They are opposites in that sense. I believe you can feel varying degrees of both at the same time, but that one always dominates the other. You can never feel both equally in the same instant. Ambition is driven by hunger, while gratefulness is driven by feeling full. They are opposites in that sense.

]]> By: JL http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-11148 JL Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:19:12 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-11148 I think you need to think more creatively on this. I recently purcahsed the Walt Disney Imagineers' book on thinking creatively, let's see how much I learned... Ok, so you're given us a choice between ambition and gratitude. Here's the question: Q: Do you want to be ambitious all the time, grateful all the time, or both, but each half the time? Here's my answer: A: Why can't it be both all the time? ;) I think you need to think more creatively on this. I recently purcahsed the Walt Disney Imagineers’ book on thinking creatively, let’s see how much I learned…

Ok, so you’re given us a choice between ambition and gratitude. Here’s the question:

Q: Do you want to be ambitious all the time, grateful all the time, or both, but each half the time?

Here’s my answer:

A: Why can’t it be both all the time?

;)

]]> By: OptimistLab » The Carnival of Deliberate Creation #2: Perspectives http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1433 OptimistLab » The Carnival of Deliberate Creation #2: Perspectives Thu, 22 Mar 2007 06:03:15 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1433 [...] John Wesley presents Are Ambition and Gratitude Mutually Exclusive? posted at Pick the Brain. [...] [...] John Wesley presents Are Ambition and Gratitude Mutually Exclusive? posted at Pick the Brain. [...]

]]> By: » happiness carnival - March 11, 2007Think Happy Thoughts Happiness Blog http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1184 » happiness carnival - March 11, 2007Think Happy Thoughts Happiness Blog Thu, 15 Mar 2007 04:11:21 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1184 [...] John Wesley presents Are Ambition and Gratitude Mutually Exclusive? posted at Pick the Brain. [...] [...] John Wesley presents Are Ambition and Gratitude Mutually Exclusive? posted at Pick the Brain. [...]

]]> By: John Wesley http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 John Wesley Fri, 09 Mar 2007 16:40:48 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1060 Vishvas, That is definitely something to consider. Life is indeed a problematic affair. Vishvas,

That is definitely something to consider. Life is indeed a problematic affair.

]]> By: Nneka http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1025 Nneka Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:30:37 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1025 Why either/or? Why not both? I am thankful in every moment. Yet, every day I engage in activities that are moving me towards my goals. In the activities I am thankful. For example, one of my goals is to generate half million page views a month by the end of this year. While I write, comment, link, and communicate with other bloggers I am grateful. Grateful for the opportunity and courage to do it, and grateful for the connections. All while moving ambitiously towards my goal. In Spirit, Nneka Why either/or? Why not both?

I am thankful in every moment. Yet, every day I engage in activities that are moving me towards my goals. In the activities I am thankful. For example, one of my goals is to generate half million page views a month by the end of this year. While I write, comment, link, and communicate with other bloggers I am grateful. Grateful for the opportunity and courage to do it, and grateful for the connections. All while moving ambitiously towards my goal.

In Spirit,
Nneka

]]> By: John Wesley http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 John Wesley Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:03:48 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1024 Frank, Thank you for contributing. Discussions are the best part of the site, so comments are very valuable. I agree with what Donald, SweetTrend, and Xdroot have said about balance between gratitude and ambition. They also mentioned a different sort of ambition that focuses on helping people rather than selfishness. This is something I really wasn't thinking of before. I was caught in the all or nothing mindset. Having ambition to create or provide value to others is a powerful motivator. When I feel that way I'm the happiest. Frank,

Thank you for contributing. Discussions are the best part of the site, so comments are very valuable.

I agree with what Donald, SweetTrend, and Xdroot have said about balance between gratitude and ambition.

They also mentioned a different sort of ambition that focuses on helping people rather than selfishness.

This is something I really wasn’t thinking of before. I was caught in the all or nothing mindset.

Having ambition to create or provide value to others is a powerful motivator. When I feel that way I’m the happiest.

]]> By: Frank http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1019 Frank Thu, 08 Mar 2007 11:59:59 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1019 My friend sent me an email with this link inside, telling me that the author was reporting one my comment. It was a great feeling, thanks John. To me, "getting there" is more related to what I have to do in order to live the life I have (and want) to live. I have the conviction that each of us can (and have to) achieve huge things. By that I'm not speaking about getting rich or famous. I'm personally motivated by the things I want to create and share with the world. To me, that's what "getting there" refers to. To succeed we have to bravely overcome our fears and listen to that extremely powerful thing inside of us that knows what to do. My friend sent me an email with this link inside, telling me that the author was reporting one my comment.

It was a great feeling, thanks John.

To me, “getting there” is more related to what I have to do in order to live the life I have (and want) to live. I have the conviction that each of us can (and have to) achieve huge things. By that I’m not speaking about getting rich or famous. I’m personally motivated by the things I want to create and share with the world. To me, that’s what “getting there” refers to. To succeed we have to bravely overcome our fears and listen to that extremely powerful thing inside of us that knows what to do.

]]> By: Xdroot http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Xdroot Thu, 08 Mar 2007 03:26:58 +0000 http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/are-ambition-and-gratitude-mutually-exclusive/#comment-1011 To add to Donald's summation, I would say that gratitude can act as a balance to 'ambition'. Ambition or wanting seems to be the natural state of things. The media encourages it. However, ambition for ambition's sake is not conducive to positive well-being. Gratitude by it's very nature contains an element of humility. And as such acts as a check against rampant ambition. It channels the ambitious drive to productive uses. To add to Donald’s summation, I would say that gratitude can act as a balance to ‘ambition’. Ambition or wanting seems to be the natural state of things. The media encourages it. However, ambition for ambition’s sake is not conducive to positive well-being. Gratitude by it’s very nature contains an element of humility. And as such acts as a check against rampant ambition. It channels the ambitious drive to productive uses.

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