“Your heaviest artillery will be your will to live. Keep that big gun going”

This quote from Norman Cousins reminds us that our will to push forward and to continue with our lives is our greatest weapon. It seems self evident, but it provides real insights.

Why? Because in almost all circumstances, if you can just continue moving, continue pushing forward, you will get to a better time in your life. Your will to survive will allow you to get through the most difficult of challenges.

The will to continue on will benefit you more than most of the talents that you have because talent without that drive will mean that you are in trouble at the first sign of adversity. If you have the will, you will still be there when things finally do get better.

Sometimes, the key to life and success is to just continue on. Many things can be learned to help you in certain ways, to make you smarter, more adaptable. But life is not predictable, logical or fair, and thus so many things we learn to better our lives could be for nought.

If you have the will to continue on with life, you will have the will not just to make it through the tough times, but to actively pursue what gives meaning to you. Being able to actively do something is part of the character you build through having the will to continue on.

The only certainties in life are death and uncertainty. If you have the will to live, you can navigate the uncertainties as long as you live.