Get rid of them floaties, we’re heading to the deep end…

Everything happens for a reason. Good things come to those who wait. What will be will be.

How often do we use these phrases to make sense of the events in our lives? These ancient proverbs have stood the test of time for both their powerful messages and their brevity. They allow us to trust in the future when the present seems bleak; they remind us of the importance of patience, and how so often it is necessary to weather the storms in life to be rewarded with sunny days. But honestly, is that really how we use them?

 

More often than not, when I hear a friend spout off one of these phrases, they are not using them as a tool to reaffirm, but rather as an excuse to retreat. They’ll say, “so what if I didn’t apply for that job, everything happens for a reason”, or “I guess I wasn’t supposed to talk to that girl, good things come to those who wait.”

 

When studying the lives of highly successful of the past, two character traits always emerge. The first is a drive and ambition to achieve goals, regardless of how daunting the obstacles in the way may be, and the second and far more important trait is the willingness to try, fail, and try again.

 

The successful make their own luck, because the successful put them in position to take advantage of opportunities when opportunities present themselves. Yes, maybe your classmate was lucky to receive that job interview from attending career day, but he put himself in that position by attending and networking, while you were sitting on your couch watching TV.

 

In life, it’s often not a matter of how bad you want it, but rather how far you are willing to go to get it. We all have dreams and ambitions, but few are willing to risk the failure and rejection necessary to get them. Sure, by putting yourself out there, you risk failure, but if you never take the chance you ensure failure.

 

So the next time you or someone you know uses one of these phrases these ancient proverbs to make sense of the events in life, question whether or not you are reaffirming your drive after a failed chance at an opportunity, or because you failed to take a chance at a possible opportunity. Put down the crutches and try.

 

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Keep an eye out for next week’s “Deep Thought of the Week”. Make sure you click the “Like” button at the bottom if you enjoyed reading this, and remember, the kiddie pool is nice, but the real fun goes down on the deep end.

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