It Doesn’t Hurt to Try
Sometimes, success is about joining the race, not winning
I’ve not run a marathon, but I know I feel successful if I put on my running shoes and head out the door. Sit on the couch, though, doing diddly squat when I haven’t had enough exercise, and I feel like a failure.
I understand what it’s like not to engage with life’s challenges because you don’t think you’re good enough to succeed. Sometimes, lofty goals remain just that; dreams in the clouds. You don’t reach for them as the idea of failing is painful.
What, for example, would it be like to enter a race but cross the finish line last? Or not make it that far?
Will you imagine you are inadequate? Useless?
Might you’ll experience shame? Guilt?
Most likely, these worries won’t bear fruit if you don’t do all you set out to achieve. Instead, you’ll be energized and glad you gained valuable experience to use when you try again.
After all. When a toddler falls over, we don’t say, “That’s it. You might as well throw in the towel, kid. You’re obviously not a good walker.”
We expect a child to tumble multiple times before they can stroll confidently. Falling is part of the learning process. Since it’s expected, no one laughs or scolds. The child’s not made to think he’s inferior or advised to quit.
Similarly, when you take up a challenge, embark on a new project, or stretch your boundaries, you might screw up your journey.
But that’s okay. It’s all right to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and use them to propel you forward.
Furthermore, there’s another side to trying. You might come up trumps.
Maybe you won’t fall on your behind. You’ll take a big step in the right direction or cross the finish line.
If you don’t try, though, you will never realize what might have happened. You can’t second-guess how events will end. Whether you win the race or simply participate, you’ll be happier than if you don’t join in and watch from the sidelines.
Bridget Webber writes articles for magazines and websites; she often ghostwrites for professionals who can’t spare the time to pen compositions. She’s written poetry eBooks and is featured in several leading publications.
