|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Have you had a challenging day or week? Feel a little tired or discouraged with a current situation? Ready to throw in the towel and quit something?
Don't worry. It's very normal to go through times of feeling that something in life stinks and all there is to see and feel is the current mess.
Here is something neat to ponder during those times, though. When doing battle with discouraged feelings, take a look at this report and reflect on this man's record of failure. It is a testament to how humans can learn and grow and win despite the losses and defeats.
Failed in business-------------------------------------1831
Defeated for legislature------------------------------1832
Failed in business again----------------------------1833
Elected to legislature---------------------------------1834
Sweetheart died----------------------------------------1835
Nervous breakdown------------------------------------1836
Defeated for speaker----------------------------------1838
Defeated for land officer------------------------------1843
Defeated for congress--------------------------------1843
Elected to congress-----------------------------------1846
Defeated for re-election-------------------------------1848
Defeated for senate------------------------------------1855
Defeated for vice president--------------------------1856
Defeated for senate------------------------------------1858
Elected President--------------------------------------1860
Who was he?
He was a simple, uneducated, country boy who refused to allow his uncongenial circumstances stop him. He refused to be a victim. He refused to accept failure. He refused to listen to people who told him he was crazy. He refused to stay down when he felt like nothing was going his way.
Simply put, he picked himself up no matter what and kept on going after his dream. He educated himself and did whatever it took to keep moving in the direction of his passions.
Who was he? Abraham Lincoln.
If you reflect back on your life, you can find patterns of the times you grew the most. Many of those times were probably a result of some kind of previous 'failure,' maybe even a series of them.
Remember: children don't fail when they are learning to walk. They fall down over and over again. It is the falling that teaches them and strengthens them.
Each failure is a learning experience. And the faster people pick themselves up, reflect on the past occurrence and go again, the faster they can achieve their goals and dreams.
So with this in mind, choose the one thing that may not be going exactly as you wish right now and do one thing to move you closer to achieving the result you want. And remember, life is about learning and growing.
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: John@TheStreetKid.com
About The Author
John Assaraf, aka The Street Kid: New York Times & Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, Trainer & Entrepreneur
This week is Part Five of our five part series... Read More
Every four years the world is given the gift of... Read More
I sat down to write my weekly humor column, but... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 4,... Read More
What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most... Read More
Continued...About a year later I met my husband. I met... Read More
Forgiveness is a critical element in becoming self actualized and... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 5,... Read More
Fulfilling your dreams will remain a mirage if you simply... Read More
Have you ever said thank-you to the cow that provided... Read More
Whoever coined this phrase is a genius. Life finds ways... Read More
I stepped up to the edge and looked down. I... Read More
The true test in life does not occur when all... Read More
I just got back from Colorado where I spent a... Read More
Everyone wants a blue ribbon. Blue. First place. The best.... Read More
Such as my defeat overwhelmed me, so did my love... Read More
Let's file this one under the heading of random musings... Read More
It was a mild summer day in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina... Read More
Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple... Read More
Carlos' Words of Wisdom1. Today is your day to exceed,... Read More
To every life, there is a purpose; a purpose of... Read More
What is your recovery rate? How long does it take... Read More
As I sat down to write this article, I was... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 24,... Read More
Most people give up just when they're about to achieve... Read More
Changing our physiology is one of the best ways to... Read More
In the moment of completing a thought or action, it... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 22,... Read More
The early months of this year brought major challenges, as... Read More
"If you are pained by external things, it is not... Read More
This man is an Anglican priest but with a difference.... Read More
I'm leaving on a TV tour in a few weeks.... Read More
Who is Wallace Wattles? Wallace D. Wattles died over 90... Read More
Carlos' Words of Wisdom1. Today is your day to exceed,... Read More
Here's a simple parable with an important moral.Each mirror, you... Read More
Often when I receive emails from this list with folks,... Read More
Are beliefs not often the children of ignorance and fantasy?... Read More
Just imagine how it would feel to be successful...., to... Read More
Wreaths are like rings. They represent the Universal Circle ("Let... Read More
EXTREME is not a term usually connected to self-care. Self-care... Read More
Even though this article was next on my idea list,... Read More
The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one... Read More
What is the most essential part of your business? You... Read More
Jeremiah was certainly one of the most distinguished notables of... Read More
I tremble at the thought that millions of people suffer... Read More
When was the last time you smiled at a stranger?When... Read More
1. How do I love myself?2. How can I feel... Read More
Writing a book or creating a killer headline requires a... Read More
1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More
Buddhists study nothing because they have found that you must... Read More
Inspirational Inspirational |