How Having An “Empty Stomach” Attitude Can Lead To Success

I will never forget the time when I, along with family members and friends, had gone to eat at a All-You-Can-Eat chinese buffet and left there never wanting to eat another morsel of food for the rest of my life. I was so full; I felt miserable. I looked and felt like the statue of Buddha that greeted us on the way in.

Maybe I misunderstood the statue’s stomach size that greeted us, to be a challenge to see who could leave the restaurant looking that way. It seemed like I took the challenge seriously and left feeling like I had achieved the goal. It was sickening. I was so gorged that I felt I had committed the unpardonable sin. No forgiveness for my gluttony.

That fullness left me with no desire to want to eat anytime soon. I swore (even though I don’t practice swearing), that I would never eat that much food again. Its been years since and I have kept that promise.

Being or feeling that full, does kill the desire for more. It is uncomfortable. I was so uncomfortable that I had to loosen my belt just to sit in the car for the ride back home. Okay, that’s the last I’ll say about that. You get the picture but it is uncomfortable. It also brings on a lazy feel; no energy to do anything but sit or lay down.

This full feeling happens also in other areas where one reaches a certain goal or point in life that they stop desiring more. They no longer have an appetite to keep growing; reaching for more. This could be spiritual, physical, relational, intellectual, vocational, etc. This is not healthy. It derails from a path of success.

I like what Solomon had to say on this matter. Let’s listen to him for a moment: “It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on.” (Prov. 16:26 NLT) It’s the empty stomach that keeps you going after more.

Have an Empty Stomach Attitude when it comes to your:

1. Relationship with God
2. Relationship with family and friends
3. Passion
4. Learning – never stop learning (read, write, travel)
5. Spirit of philanthropy (benevolence, charitable deeds)

With this attitude, you will always be hungry for more, having a spirit of dissatisfaction even though you might be content, and gunning for success.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this attitude, so take the time to comment in the box below. Secondly, what other area should one have this type of attitude?