Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power - a

The words of Marsha Sinetar—“Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power—a reason to get up every morning or to pick ourselves up and start in again after a disappointment.”—speak with the fire of the ancients. They tell us that within the heart of every man and woman lies a sacred flame. When that flame is weak, the body falters, the will bends, and every obstacle seems like a mountain too tall to climb. But when that flame is strong, when burning desire grips the soul, then no storm can extinguish it, no darkness can hold it down.

In these words lies the eternal truth: it is not mere talent, nor fortune, nor luck that carries us through the ages, but desire—a relentless hunger that refuses to be silenced. This desire is not a fleeting wish; it is not a shallow craving. It is the furnace of the spirit, the power that transforms despair into resilience, and failure into another chance to rise. The ancients knew this well, for they taught that the gods favor not those who are perfect, but those who endure, those who rise each time they fall.

Let us look to the story of Thomas Edison, whose inventions lit the modern world. Before the electric bulb cast away the shadows, he endured not ten failures, not a hundred, but over a thousand attempts that did not succeed. Many would have abandoned the quest, saying, “It is impossible.” But Edison’s burning desire to bring light to mankind gave him the staying power to continue. When asked about his so-called failures, he answered, “I have not failed. I have just found ten thousand ways that will not work.” Such is the strength of desire—it transforms every defeat into a stepping-stone toward triumph.

The emotional force of Sinetar’s teaching lies in its recognition of human frailty. We will all fall. We will all taste disappointment. There will be mornings when the heart grows heavy and whispers, “Why rise again?” It is in these moments that the fire of desire must answer, “Because my purpose is not yet complete.” This is the staying power that makes heroes of ordinary men and women: the power to begin again, not once, but as many times as it takes.

For the seeker of wisdom, the lesson is clear: never let the flame of desire be neglected. Feed it with vision, nourish it with faith, protect it from the winds of doubt. Without it, life becomes a burden, and every obstacle an ending. With it, life becomes a quest, and every obstacle a teacher. The fire within must burn brighter than the darkness without.

What then are the actions we must take? First, find your purpose—what you truly long to be or do. Do not settle for the shallow wishes of the day; listen for the deep calling that awakens you at night and will not let you rest. Second, guard this purpose as a treasure. Write it, speak it, remember it when failure stings. Third, when disappointment strikes—and it will—do not curse the fall, but rise again, knowing each rise strengthens the spirit.

Thus, let Marsha Sinetar’s words echo in your heart: burning desire gives us staying power. It is the flame that lights the morning and rekindles us after each fall. Hold fast to that fire, for with it you may stumble, but you will never be defeated. Without it, even the smallest challenge will break you. So choose to live with fire in your soul, and you will endure, and in enduring, you will triumph.