Failure does not mean defeat
Failure can be devastating. It often means the death of a dream and the realization of a nightmare. It’s so painful, some people spend their entire lives trying to avoid it. They see it as the Wicked Witch of the West, Darth Vader, and the Boogeyman all rolled up in one.
But what if, instead of thinking of failure as our enemy, we thought of it more as a neutral force like electricity which, if tamed and harnessed, can produce tremendous power? Sure, if you’re not paying attention, it can bite you or put an end to life as you know it, but if you know its secrets, it can power your life.
Every car breaks down every now and then. Sometimes your car just needs a flat tire changed. Sometimes it has been in a major crash and needs to be rebuilt from the frame up. Setbacks, devastation, and defeat are all part of everyone’s journey, so you have to ask yourself, what is in your emergency roadside repair kit?
“Failure may be inevitable, but utter defeat is not.”
Do you have the right tools to deal with the inevitable breakdowns so that you can continue your journey? Do you have the correct perspective of failure that will allow you to learn from it and continue to follow your vision? Or, do you allow failure to truncate your journey right there on the side of the road? Are you the type of person that stays right where you are when you break down?
Failure may be inevitable, but utter defeat is not. You haven’t lost unless you abandon your vision on the side of the road and run for home. Sailors don’t give up when a strong wind blows against them. They adjust their sails. They use that wind to help move their vessel forward. They use adversity as a form or propulsion.
Excerpted from The Seven Powers of Success; Unlock Your Strengths, Unleash Your Dreams. www.charlesmarshall.net © 2013 Charles MarshallCharles Marshall is a nationally known humorous motivational speaker and author. Visit his Web site at www.CharlesMarshall.net or contact him via e-mail at charles@charlesmarshall.net.
No comments yet.