On Monday, we discussed how putting in the effort over time to achieve a larger goal is almost always more preferable than what we receive from instant gratification.
The same holds true when what we get now isn’t what we want. Forget instant gratification. Call it instant disappointment.
I’m willing to bet each of you has wondered aloud why something negative has happened in your life.
- Why me?
- I’m a good person, why does this have to happen to me now?
- What did I do to deserve this?
It’s never easy to deal with setbacks. It’s difficult to pick yourself up, no matter how committed you are to reaching your goal. But if you understand these situations are often part of your path to success, they don’t have to be deterrents.
Instead, they can be the catalyst that fully prepares you for the success you’re about to enjoy.
I’ve told my sons that losing, although disheartening and frustrating, is just as important as winning. The reason is today’s best life practice:
Success and failure creates balance in our lives and gives us perspective.
Maybe you failed this time, because you weren’t ready to fully handle the success you seek. Maybe it’s because you needed to learn a valuable lesson in the effort it will take to succeed. Maybe you needed to know how awful failure is to fully grasp how gratifying your ultimate success will be.
Jarrett Grossman, a mentor of mine, illustrates this well in the video above. If you’re interested in old Twilight Zone episodes, check out “A Nice Place To Visit.” It highlights the principle that constantly winning or losing is equally dissatisfying.
Remember, life is a balance. It’s just as acceptable to be frustrated when you fail as it is to thoroughly enjoy success. But keep your failures in perspective. They don’t guarantee success on your next attempt, but they often do get you one step closer.
Make today better than yesterday, but not as great as tomorrow!
Chris Errington is a husband, dad, writer, seeker of truth and fervent believer in the power of utilizing best practices to live a more balanced and enjoyable life. When I’m not coaching Little League baseball, rooting for the Steelers and West Virginia University or desperately attempting to grow grass in the front/back yards, I’m working my plan to live my ultimate goal – Writing remotely from the deck of a 32-foot sloop while sailing throughout the Caribbean. Getting my wife to agree is another matter entirely.
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