Imagine a person who has a great desire to succeed, and is also afraid to fail. Because of this desire to succeed, the person is continually trying, and because of the fear of failure, the person is continually experiencing frustration. Frustration triggers anxiety, which results in depression. Depression paralyzes us into lack of activity, which results in failure.
We all have a comfort zone. Think of it as a thermometer. If the mercury goes over 90°F, it may be too hot. If it goes below 30°F, it may be may be too cold. As long as we are in our comfort zone, we can function, but the second we get out of our comfort zone, we self destruct.
You can handle only so much depression, before you reach the danger zone of your stress level causing you to either end the activity or quit all together. The danger of becoming stressed out then becomes self-destructive. It neutralizes energy and creativity and causes physical and mental meltdowns. You become diseased. This stress then materializes as ulcers, hypertension, and migraine headaches.
The answer to physical and mental problems is to remove stress. Failure at a certain task is not permanent. As a matter of fact, most successful people thrive on failures. Read Abraham Lincoln’s record of his political office. He failed to be elected to every political office he ran for, except the Presidency.
The best motivation I have seen is etched on a wooden block sitting on my desk. It is from Theodore Roosevelt: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, his face is marred by dust, and sweat, and blood. Who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who at best, if he wins, knows the thrill of high achievement, and if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Today’s Exercise: Get off your buttocks, and count your failures as stepping stones to victory.
Today’s Affirmation: I am a calm, peaceful and patient person.
Points to Ponder: Abraham Lincoln failed to be elected to every political office he ran for except the presidency.
