One of the critical skills for ongoing success is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Sooner or later in life everyone experiences failure, disappointment, setbacks or the loss of desire to keep – keeping on.
Over the years I have had more than my share of failures as well as successes. Just because you have failed, doesn’t mean you are a failure. Just because you have achieved success doesn’t make you a success. Many people have hit bottom, only to climb out and achieve greatness and many people have done great things only to end up broke, alone and without any lasting feeling of accomplishment.
Success and failure are neutral concepts. What makes either of them positive or negative in your life is not the event, circumstance or situation, but what you do with it along the path of life. No one that I have ever met in my world travels has had a life filled with nothing but failure or only one success after another. Resilience is your ability to keep coming back, again and again and again. No matter how many times life throws you a curve or brings you to your knees – you try again – you try something new, something different, or something old in a new way. You refuse to give in or up. Here are a few ideas to consider when you feel like quitting.
1. Failure/adversity/problems are temporary – this too shall pass.
2. You need it so you could learn a valuable lesson.
3. You need to be softened by life.
4. You need it to give your life more integrity or character.
5. You need it so you could be an example for others.
6. You need to rid yourself of some ego, arrogance or ignorance.
7. You need it to grow in some area of your life.
8. You need it so you could learn to laugh at yourself.
9. You need it so you can learn to live in the present.
10. You need it so you can learn to take life less seriously.
If I can accomplish what I have in my career these past 35 years (not bragging) having been brought to my knees again and again, with failure, disappointment, more problems than any one person deserves – then you too – regardless of your current station in life or circumstances can rise again wiser, stronger and better . All you have to do is reach inside and find the courage, strength, stamina, attitudes, self-belief, self-confidence and rekindle your desire for what you believe you can do and will do.
Hang on to your dream, no matter how big or impossible it might seem to you based on current circumstances. And, don’t let others convince you that you can’t do it, won’t do it or shouldn’t do it. Be true to yourself and your destiny. You have everything you need, right now, inside of you to carry on. And don’t forget – God is in your corner. All you have to do is do it.
A few questions:
1)What is your first reaction/response to adversity/failure?
2)Do you tend to let circumstances determine your life?
3)Is resilience easy or hard for you?
4)What is resilience trying to teach you today?
In His Service, Tim