Life is an everyday battle. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.
And on those days that we fail to get 1st place, we feel as though everything is falling apart and we can’t recover. But some people use their losses to their advantage and they get every penny’s worth from it.
How do they do it? Are you one of those people? If not, then how can you be one?
Accepting Defeat
It’s human nature to survive, thrive, and beat the odds. It’s a given fact. Everybody wants to win. Nobody wants to lose. But the reality is, we don’t always get what we want out of life. Everybody goes through a rough patch at least at one point in their lives – millionaires, royalties, everybody!
You know what it’s like to fail. But here’s the thing, the most successful people that come out on top didn’t just quit after failing. They acknowledged that they lost and guess what? They tried again. Easier said than done, I know. That first step is always the hardest, but after you get over that mountain of adversity… the next ones are easier because now your experience will help carry those weaker moments into success instead of allowing them to break your resolve or make you quit before you even start again.
By accepting defeat, you remain humble and thankful that you got to experience life in all its totality – the good, the bad, and everything in between. You have learned lessons that make you, well, a better you!
When it’s your turn to take on new challenges again soon enough (and hopefully with more success), then know that this time around will be better than all previous attempts because YOU are wiser now than you were before you even started.
The Rematch
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight.”
A Japanese proverb, originally “Nana korobi, ya oki.” You may have heard it several times in your life or maybe this is your first time reading it. Nevertheless, it basically means choosing to never give up hope, to get back up and strive harder.
After fighting for the longest time, just to lose everything you’ve worked hard for up to that moment, it’s disappointing. When the going gets tough, it can be tempting to give up and walk away from what’s challenging. It may be the easiest but the smarter thing to do after that is try again because you already know what you didn’t do right and now you have the chance to do it again.
When you have hope, you have the motivation to keep going even when the path is rocky and difficult. You believe that things will get better and that you can overcome any obstacle. This positive attitude gives you the strength to get through anything.
No matter how difficult things seem, or how often you fail, getting back up and striving harder is the only way to achieve success. That’s not to say that it’s easy – far from it. But every time you choose hope over despair, you’re taking a step closer to your goal. And eventually, if you keep at it, you’ll reach your destination.
Perspective, Perspective, Perspective
There’s an old saying that life is what you make of it. And while that may be true to some extent, it’s also important to keep in mind that perspective plays a role as well. Life can be tough, but it’s a lot easier to get through the tough times when you have a positive outlook.
It’s all about seeing the glass half full instead of half empty. Now, obviously this isn’t always easy to do. But it’s worth trying, because a little bit of optimism can go a long way. As anyone who’s ever stubbed their toe knows, perspective is everything. A paper cut can feel like the end of the world when you’re bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal.
The same is true of life’s bigger challenges. A bad break-up can feel like the end of the world, but with time (and maybe a little ice cream) you’ll realize that there are plenty of other fish in the sea. A job loss can be devastating, but it can also be an opportunity to pursue your dream job.
Life is full of ups and downs, ebbs and flows. And sometimes, it just sucks. There’s no getting around that. But it’s all about perspective. If you can step back and look at the big picture, you’ll realize that the bad times are only temporary. They’ll pass. And then you can appreciate the good times all the more. Because they won’t last forever either.
As the old adage goes, “When life gives you lemon, make lemonade!” So the next time life gives you lemons, try to remember that sometimes it’s all about perspective. Failing means nothing if we don’t learn what needs fixing. Failing can give us a clearer picture about where we stand so no effort is ever wasted. So savor every moment, good or bad. That’s what life is all about. Enjoy the ride.
