Churchill is credited with the famous statement that success is going from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm. It is a beautiful and profound phrase; to a certain extent, it is even true, just like that other saying which states that to be successful, one need only not give up. The fact is, however, that failure is a fundamental and enriching experience; dealing with it time and again shapes one’s character and brings maturity. But assimilating this, as with other experiences, is a conscious act: one must allow oneself to be transformed by it and begin to act in accordance with that transformation. Thus, the experience acquires meaning, becomes useful, and each failure is left behind as a step on a staircase. Unfortunately, not everyone incorporates it in this way. There are those who do not learn from their failures, whose lives boil down to a cycle in which the same mistakes are followed by the same consequences, in a degrading repetition that gradually destroys everything around them. Instead of perseverance, there is stubbornness, and the result is very sad to witness…
Tag: behavior
The Art of Life Is to Consciously Make…
This must be repeated endlessly: the art of life is to consciously make it a transformative process in which the individual becomes what he intends to be. To this end, it is necessary first to visualize, then to deliberate, and finally to remain faithful to the plan of action. Of course, there will never be a perfect execution, and it is only natural that everything will conspire to prevent the plan from coming to fruition. It is only natural that, once the commitment is made, countless obstacles will arise, constantly manifesting from places one never expected. And it is only natural that one will often stumble, fall, and betray that initial intention. But it is precisely in the face of difficulties that it is realized; it is precisely in carrying it forward despite everything and, even while aware of the flaws and difficulties, in not giving up.
It Is Not Difficult to Discern What Is in…
It is not difficult to discern what is in accordance with or contrary to one’s own nature; what is difficult is to resolve not to go against it, and to act in accordance with that resolution. The devil is always lurking; the will is always in danger of betraying itself. And although, at times, everything seems very clear, no one is better than ourselves at convincing ourselves of the insignificance of the impending mistake. To commit it, one need only let oneself be carried away, something we also readily wish to absolve of guilt, but which, after all, we know is not without it. Inertia is always easy, but it does not lead to a destination one can be proud to reach.
With a Little Maturity, One Can Easily…
With a little maturity, one can easily absorb an insult, a wrong, or misfortune; but not guilt. When a man, against his will, must endure life’s bitterness, he may initially groan, feel the harm suffered, the loss, the unhappiness; but all of this fades with time when the responsibility falls on an external agent. Suffering, therefore, neither tortures nor takes root. Something very different happens when one knows oneself to be responsible for the harm, especially if it has claimed more than one victim. Here, it is no longer possible to take comfort in accepting something one could not control: the mistake leaves a mark, less by exposing one’s imperfect nature than by establishing one as the author of the unwanted act—forever. One cannot accept it because, unlike in the other case, this act says something about one’s individuality that cannot be suppressed or avoided.