Failure and Rejection… the two scariest words in the English language. For most people at least, these two words are avoided like the plague. Even as I write this I’m apprehensive and fear that this article will suck.
Ah self-doubt, It’s like a disease, a ball and chain. Its enough to make you crazy. I am in a constant crusade to plow through this inclination to submit to fear of failure. Isn’t it amazing how you can get all the encouragement in the world, but a single insult, or naysayer can crumble morale?
In my personal quest for success, I have learned that, failure is crucial and When encountered it should be embraced as a catalyst for self-knowledge and personal growth.
When it comes to training we are encouraged to go to failure in order to reap the benefits we seek. Going to failure is necessary to trigger an adaptive response and altar body composition.
The mind adapts much the same way. Repeated stimulus triggers neurons to fire in our brains causing this fight or flight response. In the case of doing what one fears, repeated acts of courage over time weakens the stimulus (doing something we fear) like public speaking. Your body cannot keep reacting to the same thing the same way so it adapts in an effort to reach homeostasis. The repeated act no longer fires neurons, thus no more sweaty palms, no more butterflies, no more weak knees, no more fear.
Rejection, defeat, and failure are conditioning for the will, mind, and spirit.
“Every perceived failure lies the seed of an equal or greater benefit”-N. Hill
When you lose, appreciate it. You have been given a gift. You have been given adversity, a story to tell. This hardship, if you overcome it, puts you among the greats. Can you tell me about anyone who has succeeded at everything they do without fail. Nope! The ones who come close, who had everything going for them, talent, money and resources usually throw it away because they’ve done nothing to get it. Remember high school? How many star athletes with zero work ethic have we seen recede into oblivion after graduation?
When things are hard for you, you gain appreciation, humility, wisdom, character, self-reliance and a wealth of other virtues. Not to mention happiness that is unreliant on circumstance, but is intrinsic.
For most of my childhood I was short, overweight, timid as all hell, and had little athletic ability. I didn’t know what it was like to have a girl like me. You may say “boo hoo!” but for a 12 year old boy this kind of thing is all important.I was the nice guy they had pass notes to their crush at recess. Yah… i was “That Guy”! It sucked about as much as my grades, catching ability, and free throw (I played an awful lot of sports for someone who really shouldn't). I was miserable at the time, my self-esteem sucked, and I saw myself becoming self-loathing and lazy.
Unfortunately, this is the state most people enter when they have similar situations growing up and they never get out. For some reason i just couldn't settle. Thank God i didn't.
I am so grateful now I grew up the way I did. I ‘m so glad things weren't easy for me. As a sad little chubby kid I went to the gym and came out confident, fit, and hard-working. I learned so much about myself and life from the obstacles i forced myself to climb. Although my original goals in the gym were at first very superficial, i didn't realize what i’d gain. Discipline and an attitude that just wont accept defeat. I know there's always hope and i hold so much power over my life if i am just willing to use it.
