When you fail, do you find it hard to get back up and try again? If so, you are completely normal. Many people use failure as an excuse to give up. It is important to understand that failure is a part of the growth process. How many times does a small child fall over before he finally stands and eventually walks? The number of falls he encounters is countless, but it doesn't stop him from trying! Unlike a child learning to walk, most of us lose that same ambition to keep trying until we succeed. The next time you are defeated, think about it as part of a process. Get up and try again and again until you move forward.
People who quit because of a few mistakes or setbacks are being shortsighted. It’s not their fault. They believe that failure and success are opposite ends of the scale, that people achieve one or the other. This line of thinking ignores the fact that both failure and success are actually part of the same, long-term process—a process that eventually results in triumph. Failure is just another step closer to your goal. Edison knew that. Each time one of his light bulb prototypes blew up, he was stepping closer to success than to ultimate failure. He knew that if he had enough failures (and he had thousands) he would reach the right answer. And in the end, he is celebrated and remembered for that one right answer. All of his failures may well have never existed! So don’t give up on your dreams. You never know when you might hit on that right answer.
There are few things more majestic than finding a rainbow after a storm. Even after such bad weather, the wonder of a rainbow makes the gray skies seem worthwhile. The parallel here is obvious. Sometimes in life's journeys, we have to go through trials and tribulations to reach a happy ending. Is the outcome worth the troubles that come with it? You have to decide that for yourself. A positive outlook can certainly make it seem that way. Sometimes, reaching goals demands a lot of hard work. Are you willing to put up with the rain?
The best intentions don’t mean nearly as much as a actually trying, even if it means failing. Going after your goals may be tough, but trying can result in a BIG victory. The decision to try takes courage, which can be tough to come by sometimes. How many times have you longed to do something worthwhile but couldn’t quite make yourself take that first step? It’s important to remember that success isn’t always found in the goal you’re pursuing. You can be a success just by trying. You gain by learning, you gain by growing, and you gain by being just a little closer to your goal than you were yesterday.
Worthwhile goals seldom come easy. There is no accomplishment without work, and no "win" without a challenge. You’ve invested time and emotion into creating the perfect plan, and when something interferes with your hard work, it's easy to get discouraged. But all you have to do to beat that barrier is to get back up and move forward again. Goal obstacles are like the Wizard of Oz: They're a lot less intimidating once you see them up close. Next time you take a step back, don't let guilt make you stumble. Just take two steps forward and you're still further along than you were before. It doesn't matter how many walls you face. You only have to get the better of that last one.
Do you know someone who never seems to give up? Someone, who no matter what happens, just keeps going? Take a minute to think about how you would defeat someone who never gives up. Even losses and failures are like victories for some people. Try to look at your healthy lifestyle journey with a new perspective: Learn as much as you can from every situation. You might discover that giving up isn't even a choice. Keep trying and use those lessons of failure to build a solid foundation. Victory will be your sweet reward!
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