On Jan. 6, 2015, President Kevin J. Worthen welcomed BYU's staff and students back from Christmas break. At the start of the new semester, he gave all of those present encouraging words of advice, "We will all fail, more than once, everyday... This does not mean that you or I are failures."
This statement struck me because I have recently gone through some trials in life. It is true that these trials caused by my failings have made me feel, at times, like a failure. Failing is a part of life, but I am not a failure. When I felt like giving up, I would just take a deep breath and do what I could. A failure is someone that falls down and stays down.
We need to accept that we will fail. NEVER give up! Get rid of the voice of discouragement inside your head.When we fall down, get back UP! We will all learn from our experience and become more resilient to our failings. We will learn that we can get through anything.
Rodney Atkins sings, "If you're going through hell, keep on going. Don't slow down. If you're scared, don't show it. You might get out before the devil even knows you're there.
This post really applies to college and the world all around us. It is an ever changing environment that is at times difficult to stand up to. Without this courage we are nothing. I have used songs just like the one you mentioned by Rodney Atkins to give me confidence, so I know exactly why you used it here in your blog. Your post is very inspirational and shows that you have the confidence to power through struggles. Keep pressing on Thomas.
ReplyDeleteThere was that one guy, Thomas Edison, who was trying to figure out how to make a light bulb. Looking back on his attempts after finished a working prototype he said "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." If he would have given up right before his last attempt history probably would not remember anything about him and his family might have called him a failure. What if your light bulb moment is your 9,999th attempt to make things work and you give up?
ReplyDeleteI love the words of the song that you posted Thomas, mainly for the reason that I have never heard that song before. It is so true that we must experience failure in order to succeed. I believe that it is all part of the principle of opposition in all things. How can we truly reap the rewards of success and experience the feeling of accomplishment without those rocky roadblocks and lessons learned along the way? It's a fantastic fundamental principle.
ReplyDeleteThank you for reminding me that once failure is not enough to disqualify the positive. I have always struggled with believing that I am not failure. What really helped me was replacing my fear with faith. What helps me through my trials is to remember how I picked myself up from my previous failures. Keep pressing forward!
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