Keep Trying!

Note to self: Keep trying.

I have the type of personality and temperament that causes me to become very embarrassed, discouraged and self-conscious when I make mistakes and disappoint others. But I also have the type of personality and temperament that has resulted in my serving in a number of leadership positions. Positions in which I have made lots of mistakes and disappointed others.

If you are one of the many people I have disappointed please know that I am genuinely sorry. Perhaps there will be some very small consolation in knowing I am disappointed, too.

So I understand how it would be easy to give up, go hide and not try anymore. I really do. I have felt tempted to do so. In fact, I’m writing this post from my secret underground bunker. (The freeze dried meals are not very tasty.)

But I mention this to remind all of us—including myself—not to give up.

It is important for us not to let the errors, failures, mistakes, embarrassments, disappointments and discouraging moments of life cause us to quit.

Most people who have achieved significant goals and objectives have done so after falling down. 

…. A LOT.

Keep trying!

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Keep Giving It A Shot...Life Is Worth It

If it was possible for me to remember and write down all of the times I have failed at things that mattered to me in life, it would probably take up most of the internet and leave very little space for anything else online.

Reading about my numerous failures would either make you fall on the floor laughing or start crying like a baby…or, perhaps, both.

(Okay, I will grudgingly admit some of my failures have been mildly amusing)

You might say, “Then why don’t you just stop trying, Dan? That would be easier, wouldn’t it?”

Yes, in some ways it would be easier to stop trying. And that option has occurred to me. Life can be incredibly frustrating, sometimes.

But I keep believing dreams are possible.

I keep believing life involves trying and ultimately life it is worth it.

And I keep believing God wants us to engage, God wants us to try and God wants us to live.

Furthermore, I believe God has some surprises for me that make me want to keep trusting in Him, giving it a shot and seeing what happens.

Don't Give Up, Keep Trying

Sometimes our efforts seem to meet with resistance and failure so frequently that it can feel pointless to keep trying. To say this is disappointing is a vast understatement. In fact, when we run into this reality the primary challenge is to keep trying because the inclination to give up becomes so powerful.

These kinds of thoughts enter our minds, “Why should I keep banging my head against the wall? Just settle for something less.”

Since I have had the experience which I describe above on more than a few occasions, I found myself agreeing with and finding an unusual form of challenge and inspiration in this quote from Winston Churchill:  “Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”

It's Important To Keep Trying!

Grit and determination and a willingness to keep to trying even when things are very hard.  Sometimes these factors are more important to making progress in life than talent or intelligence.  Because even those who are talented and brilliant will encounter obstacles and if they quit as soon as things get difficult, there is much that they will miss.  We may have to change strategies, but it’s important to keep trying!

Don't Give Up... Keep Trying

Many important and worthwhile pursuits will require that we attempt a number of different ways and approaches before we break through and really make progress.  So, we have to be willing to try and try again.  ….And then try yet one more time.

Keep Trying

It’s okay to try things and fail.  In fact, that’s an important part of learning and growing and making progress in life.  The sad thing is when we get so self conscious and frightened of failure that we quit trying things that aren’t guaranteed to succeed. Remember, the only reason we can walk today is because we spent a lot of time falling down first.