“Those who have accomplished great things in the world have been, as a rule, bold, aggressive, and self-confident. They dared to step out from the crowd and act in an original way. They were not afraid to be generals.”—Orison Swett Marden
This past weekend my son wrestled in a state middle school dual team qualifier tournament. He chose to wrestle out of his own ambition and confidence. I expected that it would be the stiffest competition he has faced, and it was. He went two-and-out (i.e., lost his first two matches—was pinned—and was eliminated). I had, optimistically, hoped for more, but the reality is that he is only a 6th grader going up against more experienced and more mature 7th and 8th graders. It took guts to step out onto the mat. He did so without hesitation. I admired his heart. We can all stand to be so bold as to dare the unlikely.
As we face the future, we should not ask for a comfortable path. Rather, we should want to be challenged. There is no reward to be had in taking the steps that are easy.
When we have success, do we choose to ride its momentum, or do we steer toward a new challenge (i.e., opportunity)? Great things come from being great. There is little that can be accomplished from within the comfort zone. We must reach. We must stretch ourselves. We may not win, but we will not lose. As in wrestling, so it is in life: “There are no losers…. There are only winners and learners.”
We have a choice when faced with obstacles and/or uncertainty in life. We can: 1) run, 2) avoid, or 3) confront. Among these, confrontation provides the only possibility of success. True, there is the prospect of “failure”, but there is no other path to growth. Choose confrontation.
Be grateful for the opportunity to “compete”. Be bold and unafraid.
Life is not without uncertainty. This should not alarm us. This should not impede us. The path prepared for us is what it is. Do not hesitate to take the step that is revealed to you. Take it. Don’t worry about the step that will follow. Just step—one step at a time. One bold step at a time.
Carpe momento!
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.