Op-Ed: Dreams are empowered with perseverance
LIVING ON PURPOSE
By Dr. Billy Holland
Disappointment is a familiar feeling, especially to the ambitious. The more a person strives, the more failures they will face, but this doesn’t mean that every door is always locked. Learning self-control and patience is a part of the advancement process. It is said that “True success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm,” and we certainly do not have the time to feel sorry for ourselves – there is work to do. Sometimes diligence brings success, while other times, for some reason, our dreams are not fulfilled. Though this is painful, it doesn’t mean we should shut down or place our dreams on the shelf. On the contrary, Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Where there are many roads of possibilities, there are also many intersections, and the directions we choose always make a huge difference. Unfortunately, many stand in these crossroads, but cannot seem to figure out which way to go. These places of decision are normal as we take time to pray and rest, and seek wisdom, but there is a problem when a person decides to live there. It was never God’s plan for anyone to go through life drifting on a miserable sea of doubt, confusion, and discouragement. I have sympathy for those who have never had peace and confidence about where God is leading them. We are reminded in the first chapter of James about those who have settled for mediocrity and are trapped within an indecisive mentality: “For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
Continuing to ask, seek, and knock, even if we have missed the mark, is better than giving up and fantasizing that an amazing opportunity is going to just fall out of the ceiling. I’m reminded of those who place all their hope in winning a lottery instead of finding their true destiny. Being honest with ourselves and trusting God as our source can clarify our perspective, and this will go a long way toward adjusting our attitudes. Number 1: Sometimes our failures are trying to reveal the truth that our ideas and dreams are not a part of God’s original plan. If we have made this mistake and our vision is not His will, we can simply ask Him to show us what is and keep going. Number 2: If we are convinced we are still on the right track, then let us patiently keep working as we keep our eyes on the prize. Anything worth having is worth waiting for.
Let’s consider Thomas Edison. He was responsible for over 1000 patents and became famous for his ideas, but he is equally respected for his perseverance and his perspective concerning failure. It’s true that humans have variations when it comes to mental “wiring,” and in Edison’s brain, there was evidently a bulldog determination that gave him the ability to view consistent failure as simply another stepping stone on the pathway to success. Most people, after several valiant attempts, are more than willing to throw in the towel, but not Edison. With years of research and experimenting, it’s estimated that it took 10,000 failures before he finally perfected the light bulb. He is quoted as saying, “I did not fail, I merely discovered 9,999 ways that do not work!”
Mr. Edison made up his mind and was simply never going to give up. Whatever the obstacles, reasons, or excuses, we must face the sobering reality that everyone has a choice to know their destiny. When we finally discover our true calling, we will then decide if we are willing to pay the price it takes to accomplish it. A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” Whatever is holding you back from being serious about your future is the very obstacle that only you can overcome. To succeed, one must come to the point where fear cannot prevent, and discouragement cannot persuade. Michael Jordan, considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, missed over half the shots he attempted. However, the important fact to remember is that he was never afraid to shoot. Success will NOT be achieved by those who are paralyzed with doubt, but victory awaits the bold and courageous who will relentlessly keep pressing toward the mark.
Dr. Holland is an ordained minister, chaplain, and author. Read more about living on purpose at billyhollandministries.com