It takes determination to pursue a dream, especially
when faced with one challenge after another. It takes tenacity to keep going
when desired results don’t happen as quickly as we want—or plans completely
fall apart.
Failure is tough.
Failure is discouraging.
Failure is even at times heartbreaking.
Winston Churchill said, “Success consists of going
from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”
I love that quote. But how
do we keep our zeal when it starts to wane?
We
can …
1. Focus
on the positives and anything we’ve accomplished. There’s
a reason to get excited. We’re one step closer to figuring out what will work
for us!
2. Learn
from our mistakes. Re-evaluate our goals and how we’ll
achieve them, and be open to changing “the plan.”
3. Set
aside our fears—of disappointment, making the wrong
decision, or looking silly.
4. Choose
our company wisely. Surround ourselves with positive
people—those who support us and believe in us even when we have a hard time
believing in ourselves.
5. Take
care of ourselves.
We need to eat healthy, get rest, exercise, and find time for play. When hungry,
tired, or lonely, it’s hard to be enthusiastic about anything—except eating or
sleeping!
6. Refuse
to step into victim-mode. Feeling sorry for ourselves will
zap our enthusiasm.
7. Keep
true to ourselves. We need to avoid changing our goals
just because someone else thinks we should take a different path. We also shouldn’t
try to pursue another person’s dream if it’s not a true desire of our hearts. We
have different gifts, personalities, and passions. Why miss out on what God has
in store for us?
8. Take
encouragement from the many who found great success after failure. The
following is only a sample.
Henry
Ford’s early businesses failed and left him broke five
times before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.
Walt
Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked
imagination and had no good ideas.” After that, Disney started a number of
businesses that ended with bankruptcy and failure before he created a company
that continues to touch millions of people around the world.
Thomas
Edison’s teachers told him that he was too stupid to learn
anything, and he was fired from his first two jobs for not being productive
enough. As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing
the light bulb before he discovered what worked.
Jerry
Seinfeld is a well-known comedian, but the first time he
walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze, and was
eventually jeered and booed off of the stage. Instead of giving up, he tried
again the following night and was rewarded with laughter and applause.
Fred
Astaire’s first screen test bombed. The testing director for
MGM wrote this about Astaire: “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance
a little.” But Astaire went on to become an incredibly successful actor,
singer, and dancer.
Lucille
Ball
was initially regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Her drama
instructors told her to try another profession.
Instead, Lucy ended her career with thirteen Emmy nominations and four
wins, and she also won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center
Honors.
Steven
Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern
California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually
attended school at another location but dropped out to become a director before
finishing. Today, he’s highly regarded in the film industry.
Remember . . . failure is not the end!
Have
you ever considered giving up a goal because of failure? What do you do when you feel your
enthusiasm fading?
Dawn
