Is there really such a thing as failure? As long as a person has life, they can always try again, can't they? Everyone faces disappointments. For some of us these are devastating and we never recover, for others of us they are mere steps on the path to success. What is the difference?
Wallace D. Wattles advises, "Never allow yourself to feel disappointed. You may expect to have a certain thing at a certain time and not get it at that time, and this will appear to you like failure. But if you hold to your faith you will find that the failure is only apparent. Go on in the certain way, and if you do not receive that thing, you will receive something so much better that you will see that the seeming failure was really a great success."
I recall a time in my life when I was seeking a promotion at work. I presented myself very well and almost got the job. Not knowing Wattles advice at the time, I was disappointed; but I continued to focus on what I loved about my job and I continued to do good work. At the same time, I kept my mind open to opportunities. A few months later, an amazing job fell into my lap. It was an tremendous opportunity with a significant increase in pay. Indeed, "the seeming failure was really a great success."
I do not seem to be alone experiencing this phenomenon. I recently showed the documentary "Undefeated" to one of my classes. This is the story of a high school football team in a depressed part of Memphis, Tennessee. One of the players was an excellent student but an undersized lineman. He hoped for a college scholarship, but that dream was shattered when he suffered a serious knee injury. Though disappointed, through the encouragement of his coaches and teammates, he kept striving to be his best. Suddenly, a friend of one of the assistant coaches came forward and offered to pay all of his university expenses.
Things do seem to work out for us when we keep a positive, hopeful attitude and keep doing our best in the face of apparent failure. I can't begin to say why this is the case, but I have seen it happen too many times to doubt it. More than anything else, what seems to determine success is our own willingness to get back up when life knocks us down.
Getting back up does take a certain amount of courage, but it is much easier to do when we know that better days lie ahead. When we have goals we may not achieve them in exactly the way we imagined, but as long as we keep working we will achieve them. Be aware that setbacks are only apparent. As Joel Osteen often says, "Every setback is a set up for a comeback." As any basketball coach will tell you, keep your feet moving and good things will happen.
