Be grateful for the lessons and principles you learn during hardships, for these shape you into the person you are becoming. Learn and grow - and do it with a smile =;-)
Practice makes Perfect
Growing up in Switzerland, with some German roots on my Swiss side, we often heard, "Übung macht den Meister" (literally, Exercise makes the Master), or, in the English equivalent, 'practice makes perfect.' Sports illustrates this meaningful saying very well. David Beckham would train these extra free kicks from a very young age, put in the xtra hours, and eventually become one of England's best and most important players (and one of the richest). Young Pele promised his crying father after Brazil had lost the World Cup final that he would one day win him the prized trophy - he did so three times! Michael Jordan didn't make it in the basketball team during his school and college years, only for his mother to tell him to train harder - he became the best (and richest). Practice made them perfect. They were all masters of their trade, and they never gave up.
The German proverbs also applies to learning a trade or craft and making a living with it. Specialising in something and becoming good at it is a great perspective for one's future. Your skill becomes your asset. You invest into your education and development, and thus add value to your life and future. In whatever field you want to apply it, unless we put in the extra effort, we will never reach the desired goal. Hardships can train us to not only 'reach for the stars,' but actually achieve what we dream of. But not everyone is willing to make that sacrifice or put in the hard work. Some would rather become victims of their passivity and make excuses why they didn't succeed while others did. This is not to say that some people don't get the same opportunities as others or that sometimes circumstances outside our control can bring great setbacks or even ruin an endeavour. Not every investment will pay off, any investor will tell you that. But you must at least try - and try again when necessary! Giving up should not be an option. Pursue your goals with consistency and tenacity.
Learning during Hardships
Are you grateful for what you can learn during hardships or do you become resentful that life is tough and that others have it easier than you? You choose whether you'll become bitter or better. As Denzel Washington said so well, 'ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.' Washington had to work hard to achieve what he did. He set an example for many others to follow. Hardships can bring the best out of you and train you not only in your skill, but also shape your character. As Theodore Roosevelt stated, 'To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.' Edmund Burke was right: 'Liberty does not exist in the absence of morality.' Success is not just what you achieve, but also what you become by what you achieve. What good is it to win the whole world but lose your soul? What good is it to make a lot of money and lose all your friends because they dislike you for your arrogance because of that money?
I firmly believe that 'a failure that makes you humble is better than an achievement that makes you arrogant,' as someone put it. As long as we learn from failures and mistakes, we are growing and can improve our lives and circumstances. John Maxwell wrote a brilliant and encouraging book on the topic.[1]
People who fail forward are able to see errors or negative experiences as a regular part of life, learn from them, and then move on. They persevere in order to achieve their purpose in life... The terrible truth is that all roads to achievement lead through the land of failure... The good news is that anyone can make it through failure... Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success.
Maxwell quotes George Bernard Shaw, who rightly stated that 'A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.' Making mistakes, according to Maxwell, is part of gaining experience which eventually leads to competence. 'He who makes no mistakes makes no progress' (Theodore Roosevelt). But one has to learn, take responsibility and move on. Those who just blame others and refuse to take responsibility for their actions won't grow and can't improve their lives. Be grateful for what you can learn during hardships and for what you can become during difficult periods in your life. Seek to make the best of everything and never see yourself as a victim!
How Problem-solving turns into an Asset
Many great people emerged from difficult circumstances. Great inventions resulted from seemingly unsolvable problems. Great solutions have been found by overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges. David the shepherd boy became a national hero by defeating the giant who paralysed a whole nation and its 'brave' soldiers. The light bulb was invented after countless failed attempts, all of which somehow contributed to the invention that transformed the world (where electricity is available, of course). The lack of water in modern-day Israel brought forth the drip irrigation system they then exported as an asset all over the world. During wartime many inventions were made, some for good, some for bad, of course. Big problems, when solved, can bring great solutions.
Such people, inventions and solutions have then become assets that were a blessing to others - and some very lucrative financially. The LEGO story, for example, is very inspiring. They had many setbacks, yet overcome them and prospered. Difficulties and problems can serve as a platform to bring forth the best of solutions and inventions, and more importantly, the best in human beings. Take your hard times to become a better you, and seek to find solutions to problems that can then help others too and be an asset for you. Stay positive, because 'this too shall pass,' and trust God that all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). 'Trust the process,' as they say.
People who came out of poverty themselves have usually a great compassion to help others get out of poverty too. Yes, there are those who fight poverty without really having experienced it themselves, they simply have genuine compassion for suffering people and a drive to do something about it. And yes, there are, unfortunately, also those who came out of poverty and now couldn't care less about the 'poor devils' left in it! Everyone makes decisions in life. Make sure yours are good ones. Turn your difficulties into an opportunity to learn and grow, and eventually find solutions to problems that are an asset to you and a blessing to others. Make the world a better place with what you can do and give!
The Two Mothers at the Bus Stop
You probably heard the story of the two mothers at the bus stop with a child each. They both saw a poor street cleaner and homeless person. The first said to her child, 'See, that's why you must study and work hard, so you won't end up like them.' The other mother said, 'See, that's why you must study and work hard, so you can help people like them.' It's important that we seek to make our lives a success story, but don't do so in a selfish way; do it to make the world a better place. Mother Teresa famously said that if you can't feed a thousand people, feed at least one. In other words, do what you can with what you have.
Handle Life
Whatever happens to us, we must handle life. We must find a way forward. If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. If others make mistakes against you, forgive them, learn and move on. Always learn and grow - and do so with a smile. How you respond to mistakes and failure will define who you become and determine your future. Take time to reflect and talk to the right people for advice, so you can make good decisions that will be beneficial to you and others around you. Sometimes these decisions will be tough, and others might misunderstand you or even call you mad. Some will understand later, others never. It's okay; live with your decisions. You can't please everyone. But make sure you make good decisions with the future in mind. Be consistent in your approach, but open to adjustments along the way.
Competence to Help Others
The idea of competence is to be good at what you do. Your competence is your asset and you can make your life a success story. There is satisfaction in this. Yet a deeper sense of satisfaction is found in helping others. Once your life is going well, you're in a place to help others - do it. You don't have to wait that long, however. You can help people while you're still working out your own stuff. If you possess the strength to help others while you're still solving your own problems, do it. It's rewarding and noble. Use your strength to serve others, encourage others and help others. The strong ones are to help the weaker ones. Never pride yourself in your strength. Christ used His strength to help others. He didn't pride in His strength. We are to be a blessing to others around us for their good (see Romans 15:1-3). Be grateful for your strengths, talents and competence, yet serve others humbly and generously.
Be grateful - always. Gratitude is the best attitude =;-)
[1] John C. Maxwell, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success. Nashville, TN: Nelson, 2000.
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