Life is not supposed to be easy and it rarely is, but I was raised to believe and still believe that success (personal success) is within our own grasp.
For a great many people motivation is useless. Many of the people in poverty in the world (including in the US) can not make it out of their circumstances no matter how motivated they are. For every inspirational story of success against the odds there are dozens where the odds beat down even the most motivated and inspired person. In spite of what it says on all of the inspiration posters, wanting it bad enough is not always enough and just makes those who didn't make it feel like even more of failures. In other words, inspirational words and posters do more harm then good more often then not.
Life's obstacles have helped me reach my success. Those set backs seemed so enormous and insurmountable at the time but I've always found that if it didn't break my spirit another opportunity would present itself. Surprisingly many times those opportunities were much better than what I originally thought I wanted. My personal success is my independence and taking control over my own happiness. Life doesn't seem so bad with a smile and a kind word. I just remind myself "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today then I'm having a pretty good day". Things can always be worse.
I would say that is true if we were all born equal. Sadly, we are not. We come into this world with different intellect, faculties, talents, economic status, family situations, mental impairments, and competency that some of us can be as sunny as the day, but it wouldn't amount to beans, while others could have everything going against them, but the right back up to see them through. And while, yes, we can strive to improve our situations everyday, the fact is, that for some, this can never be.
It can only never be if a person stops trying, gives up.
There are things that we can do on our own, things that we need to find others to help us do and things that we wil others to do for us so long as we are trying.
Some famous guy said once (paraphrasing) that "he asked why not rather than why" in the face of adversity and challenge.
I would say that is true if we were all born equal. Sadly, we are not. We come into this world with different intellect, faculties, talents, economic status, family situations, mental impairments, and competency that some of us can be as sunny as the day, but it wouldn't amount to beans, while others could have everything going against them, but the right back up to see them through. And while, yes, we can strive to improve our situations everyday, the fact is, that for some, this can never be.
Life's obstacles have not made me stronger or weaker. They have just been irritants to be taken care of or gotten around. The idea of that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger is BS. It just almost kills you and that's all and then you move on. There is no great mysticism to getting past problems in life. Everyone has them and everyone gets past them or not and they don't add or detract from a person's success. Everything else is just phony motivational speaker crap, who get past life's obstacles by making money making speeches to people who are buying the crap.
"Life is not supposed to be easy and it rarely is" reminds me of the Duke.
It is not a matter of being stupid as much as it is a matter of being unmotivated.
For a great many people motivation is useless. Many of the people in poverty in the world (including in the US) can not make it out of their circumstances no matter how motivated they are. For every inspirational story of success against the odds there are dozens where the odds beat down even the most motivated and inspired person. In spite of what it says on all of the inspiration posters, wanting it bad enough is not always enough and just makes those who didn't make it feel like even more of failures. In other words, inspirational words and posters do more harm then good more often then not.
I am not sure I get the point in relation to the subject presented.
Care to elaborate?
I know it's not relevant, but it's been sitting in my picture library for ages and I was desperate to post it somewhere. Sorry.
Buzz
No problem glad to provide a service
Life's obstacles have helped me reach my success. Those set backs seemed so enormous and insurmountable at the time but I've always found that if it didn't break my spirit another opportunity would present itself. Surprisingly many times those opportunities were much better than what I originally thought I wanted. My personal success is my independence and taking control over my own happiness. Life doesn't seem so bad with a smile and a kind word. I just remind myself "If this is the worst thing that happens to me today then I'm having a pretty good day". Things can always be worse.
Life's obstacles have helped me reach my success
Pj
That is exactly the way life is supposed to work! Congratulations!
"If this is the worst thing that happens to me today then I'm having a pretty good day". Things can always be worse.
A great way to look at things, I have had similar thoughts many times.
Thanks for the feedback
I would say that is true if we were all born equal. Sadly, we are not. We come into this world with different intellect, faculties, talents, economic status, family situations, mental impairments, and competency that some of us can be as sunny as the day, but it wouldn't amount to beans, while others could have everything going against them, but the right back up to see them through. And while, yes, we can strive to improve our situations everyday, the fact is, that for some, this can never be.
Perrie
It can only never be if a person stops trying, gives up.
There are things that we can do on our own, things that we need to find others to help us do and things that we wil others to do for us so long as we are trying.
Some famous guy said once (paraphrasing) that "he asked why not rather than why" in the face of adversity and challenge.
As always I appreciate your perspective
I would say that is true if we were all born equal. Sadly, we are not. We come into this world with different intellect, faculties, talents, economic status, family situations, mental impairments, and competency that some of us can be as sunny as the day, but it wouldn't amount to beans, while others could have everything going against them, but the right back up to see them through. And while, yes, we can strive to improve our situations everyday, the fact is, that for some, this can never be.
Making Our Way Over LIfe's Obstacles
If you can't go over it and can't go under it.
Awe.....he looks like my old horse Frosty! Similar markings.
Dean
In answer to your question - one can learn to open the gate, or collaborate with someone who can or ...
In other words challenges are to addressed and overcome rather simply stopping, staring at the obstacle and wailing about it before giving up
Thanks for the perspective
p.x. beautiful horse - I am a country boy and know of such things.
Life's obstacles have not made me stronger or weaker. They have just been irritants to be taken care of or gotten around. The idea of that which doesn't kill me makes me stronger is BS. It just almost kills you and that's all and then you move on. There is no great mysticism to getting past problems in life. Everyone has them and everyone gets past them or not and they don't add or detract from a person's success. Everything else is just phony motivational speaker crap, who get past life's obstacles by making money making speeches to people who are buying the crap.
If we do not learn from overcoming or failing to overcome life's obstacles, we will continue to face the same obstacles rather than progressing
Dean
Very interesting summary of your life - hung by your ass on a fence!
That's a good one!
pj
Glad you liked it, I ran across it in reading some historical pieces and thought it fir into this stream as well.
Good advice - then and now
Rather than working hard and planning, too many people (young and old) cruise along the road of life looking for this sign
Dean
Totally misses the point of the thread but I am sure you thought it was cute
Unless of course, you were trying to illustrate that unimportant things can distract us from progressing towards out life goals.
Here is some advice on an approach to life of personal accountability
Hard times make stronger people (or so my grandpa told me and it seems to have proven true during my life)
Dean
Ironic that you post a graphic about staying focused and yet you never do.
You prefer to ridicule rather than contribute or discuss a topic
The toilet does say something about your comments though, very descriptive of the place for the content of the comments actually.
I can help you improve your negative attitude. We need to work on turning that frown upside down.
Dean
Ignorance and crudeness does not lighten my mood in the least and that is what you contributions to date have been - ignorant and crude!
And yet another irrelevant comment at least there is consistency in the lack of quality and relevancy of your comments
Another irrelevant, juvenile post but at least it looks like a younger version of your avatar picture.
Trying and failing is much better than giving up!
We have all hard the advice "When given lemons, make lemonade"
Here is another take on the value of being flexible in how we approach our goals and targets
People are sometimes less than realistic with themselves about how hard they must work to achieve their goals!