I have the mantra of “be your best today; be better tomorrow”. One should not assume, however, that better tomorrow is a straight path. Indeed, it is far from linear.
As we progress toward “well-centered”, one will have their ups and downs. Overall, though, we should see progress.
Progress sometimes requires setbacks—especially when it comes to well-centered fitness. In wrestling, there is a saying that “there are no losers, only winners and learners. This is true in life (wrestling teaches a lot of life-lessons). Getting better often first requires that we fail. We fail so we can learn.
As a teacher, I suggest to my students that exams are an important learning tool. After all, when we get a test back, do we look at the questions we got correct? No. We look at what we got wrong. We learn from these mistakes (at least the good students do).
We should benefit from our setbacks. We should welcome them. Our struggles give us an education. They teach us the things we need to learn to grow. In the process, get stronger—“That which does not kill us makes us stronger”—Friedrich Nietzsche.
I struggle with the mistakes that I have made in life, but the reality is that I have no control over the past. What is in the past is passed. There is no going back. I have learned, however, that I have no regrets. The lessons learned in the past have made me who I am today. Those lessons—for better or worse—shape us. Correcting my mistakes from the past might seem reasonable, but at what cost? No. I am satisfied with where I am. My concern is where I am going.
We keep moving forward. Learn from the mistakes. Grow from failure. In so doing, the path will progress upward. The path might look like a rollercoaster, but the climb it upward. Accept it. Welcome it.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!