The average person would rather be
comfortable than be challenged. They have big dreams and big wishes, but
are reluctant to sacrifice their comfort in order to make those dreams
come true.
They might put in a little effort here and there, but when they’re
faced with an obstacle, a setback, or a challenging situation, they pull
back instead of push forward. Consequently, their dreams remain dreams,
and their reality remains unchanged.
Resilience is required for success
Resilience is an essential quality to succeeding in any industry or
endeavor. For every goal that you have, there are likely thousands of
other people who have that same goal. Do you want your music to be played on the radio? Great. Thousands of other artists are also trying to get their music played on the radio as well. Is your goal to become a professional speaker? Great. Thousands of others are also trying to succeed as professional speakers. Is your goal to become a professional athlete? Fantastic. So are thousands of other people. The point is that no matter what you do, you will have competition. Often it is those who are the most resilient who surpass their competition and achieve their goals.
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Don’t let challenges stop you from moving forward
So what is resilience? Resilience is your ability to keep
moving forward in spite of challenges, rejection, setbacks, obstacles,
and disappointments. Resilience is your ability to maintain a positive
attitude and remain optimistic when you have every reason not to be.
Resilience means you don’t give up on your goals when they become
difficult to achieve (and the bigger the goal, the greater the difficulty). Successful people are resilient. The average person is not.
The way to become more resilient is to have strong internal motivators. Motivators are reasons why you
want to accomplish what you have set out to accomplish. Most people who
say they want something –a new house, a luxury car, or a promotion, for
example – are not clear on why they want it. Because they’re not
clear, and because worthwhile goals are seldom achieved easily, they
are unable to convince themselves why they should persist when the
journey becomes difficult.
“Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
Take control of the thoughts in your mind
Successful people understand the power of the mind. They know that
when we are faced with a challenge, our mind demands an explanation. The
human mind is hardwired to protect the body from harm and discomfort.
This is why we instinctively pull our arm back when we touch a hot stove
or cover our face when someone unexpectedly throws a ball at us. Our
instincts tell us to protect ourselves.
Unfortunately those instincts can work against us when we are facing
challenges. Challenges make us uncomfortable, which triggers our mind’s
desire to avoid that discomfort. Unless we have a clear explanation for
our discomfort (a motivator or a reason why), our mind will try to convince us to quit so that we can go back to being comfortable.
Comfort is the enemy of success
Whether your goal is to buy a house, become a professional athlete,
earn a promotion, start a business, become financially free, raise a
family, or perhaps finish a university degree, you will undoubtedly
experience setbacks, roadblocks, detours, and obstacles along the way.
You must be prepared for the challenges that will come your way.
No one becomes successful because they find an easy path. They become
successful because they decide what they want, they go after it, and
when obstacles arise they don’t quit or change directions. They find a
way to overcome those obstacles and keep going. In order to master your
craft and become one of the best in your field, you must be prepared to
endure challenges. You must be resilient.
