When Plans Fail

If you’re moving towards a goal, the goal doesn’t matter in this instance, unexpected events typically come to pass. When this happens and things don’t go as planned, we are faced with a decision. We can stop or keep going. If you stop, which I’ve done on numerous occasions, your resilience muscles remain puny. If you keep going, those same muscles stretch and grow.

When you keep going, you show your capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. You display a toughness most people do not. You and I both made a decision to do whatever the thing was. We cut off every other options by deciding and our toughness grows as we push forward. Some do not bounce back. Some are easily discouraged. Some believe the world is out to get them. Some find reasons, better yet, excuses to stop. Others, like you and I, find reasons to keep going.

Another benefit I’ve discovered is increased self esteem. I hold myself in higher regard. Not to the point that I’m walking around telling others how great I am, but more of the little quiet thoughts to myself. “You did it before when…” or “This ain’t nothing, remember when…” or any other prompt that pops into mind. These prompts remind me that I’ve accomplished things prior to my current setback. These prompts remind me that I am resilient. These prompts remind me that this particular thing is temporary and I will push forward this time, just like I’ve done before.

If you haven’t pushed forward before, well you can’t lean on those types of prompts. If you haven’t failed before, you have no reason or a very small ability to bounce back. You have won and without facing defeat there’s no way to bounce back. But, if you happened upon this after a defeat and you want to know your next step, I’ll happily share. “Keep going!!!”

On the other side of the wall you just ran into you’ll find what you’re searching for. You may not know that what you’ve found was what you actually needed and wanted, but you will have found it nonetheless. You are stronger than you know. You are smarter than you know. You can accomplish more than you currently believe. All of those things are on the other side of your current obstacle. Keep going. For clarity, going doesn’t necessarily mean going straight. It could mean stepping to the side, it could mean climbing the wall, it could mean getting a step stool or a ladder or trampoline. All metaphorical or course, but I do mean this literally - keep going. Do not stop at the wall.

Today, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, I am grateful that:

I have failed enough to build my resilience muscle. Faith is great, resolve sustains, and resilience endures.

I have such a host of friends. More now than ever, I truly appreciate those relationships. They have sustained and maintained me during this most challenging of years. Words in my possession are inadequate.

I’m making more and more progress. I still believe I can do better, but what I’ve done and am doing is so much more than I had expected or hoped for.

Have you faced failure?

How do you deal with setbacks?

When was the last time you flexed your resilience muscle?

Abe,

Be Greater!!!