The Strength To Try Again

Introduction:

Welcome my friend,

Happy New Year to you!

What an awesome privilege it is to be back here again this weekend after our holiday break.

How have you been?

It truly felt a little unusual spending last weekend without our conversation here, which only highlights the meaningful connection we've built through all this time together.

Hopefully, we can carry on in the same spirit this year, consistently showing up in order to discover new insights or refresh our memory on familiar ones, becoming better in the process.

Truth is, while crafting these messages might position me as the teacher sharing wisdom, I am equally a learner myself, doing my best to stay accountable to the very ideas I've passed along to you.

So thank you for being on the other side of this, giving me the opportunity to improve by chatting with you.

Discussion:

On the first weekend of last year, we had a conversation themed “A Clean Slate” where we pointed out the significance of a new year and how it offers us a fresh chance to mentally reset, going after our goals with new optimism and drive.

For some of us, a year later we're now in a better place having seen some of those dreams become the reality we now live in.

Yet, for others this isn't the case as we're yet to make the kind of significant progress we would have liked.

For the first group, there's even more motivation to achieve more, stepping it up a notch with improved planning and a heightened determination to succeed.

This is what success does, because when we see progress it's easier to trust the process going all in with better conviction.

However, for the second group, some of that original optimism has been replaced by melancholy, as we sit quietly in one corner wondering what else we could have done differently.

Here, the major question we’re grappling with is why this year should be any different from past years that we began with excitement but ended in disappointment.

Truth is, when optimism fails to turn into reality as time passes, our commitment faces a profound test.

After all, why should we continue giving our very best when it seemingly makes no difference?

This is the basis of today's conversation.

■ An Honest Assessment 

A true evaluation of how far we've come is devoid of comparison and rooted in contentment.

For some of us, the dissatisfaction we feel isn’t truly because we haven’t achieved enough, but because we believe someone else has accomplished more.

Yet, this is an unfair way to measure our personal journey and the unique challenges we’ve faced.

Truth is, when we compare our chapter one to someone else’s chapter ten, we’re almost certain to feel inadequate, even when we’re actually right on track.

As a result, we become unhappy and unmotivated to go again, rather than continuing to build on the strong foundation we’ve already laid.

To assess ourselves honestly means extending grace to ourselves, evaluating progress not just by outcomes, but by the effort and input we’ve invested as well.

Many of us have had to overcome far greater adversity than those we compare ourselves to, and failing to acknowledge this diminishes the remarkable resilience we’ve demonstrated in continuing to try where others might have given up long ago.

So if we feel that we're underachieving let it not be because we have an unrealistic expectation to do more in comparison with where we are in our journey and the resources available to us.

Truth is, as long as we’re making progress, no matter how small, we remain on course and will eventually reach our destination if we hold onto our optimism and refuse to stop trying.

■ Identifying Our Challenges 

As part of our honest assessment, we’re likely to identify the primary obstacles holding us back.

For most of us, two major pitfalls stand out: indiscipline and the craving for immediate gratification.

Yet, nothing blocks our path to success more powerfully than these two forces.

Truth is, while some of us are genuinely giving our best and performing at the level our circumstances allow, others among us are truly not putting in enough effort.

Most of us are poor stewards of our time, frittering away the bulk of our days pursuing fleeting pleasures instead of rolling up our sleeves and building something meaningful.

Yet, indiscipline isn’t limited to these bad habits alone, it also stems from a lack of deep conviction in what we’re pursuing.

Some of us quickly abandon the work we’ve started, jumping ship to whatever the next person is doing because we believe the grass is greener on the other side.

This lack of consistency keeps us running in circles, as we fail to work on anything long enough to achieve real success in it.

Truth is, all lasting success demands delayed gratification, patiently working toward our goals with focus and unwavering commitment until the rewards finally begin to appear.

When we insist on instant success, we end up chasing illusions rather than steadily laying the groundwork for genuine achievement.

■ Aligning Our Behaviors With Our Goals 

If our goal is to reach ten points, we shouldn’t spend our time hanging around people who are only aiming for four; otherwise, when the final score shows four points for everyone, it will feel like success to them but a crushing failure to us.

Truth is, higher goals demand far greater effort.

When we desire more from life, it typically requires us to give more, meaning we must be prepared to go the extra mile.

The intensity of our desire for something is revealed in the level of sacrifice we’re willing to make for it.

So when those around us are putting in just enough to satisfy their own ambitions, we need to be ready to surpass that.

This means that to motivate ourselves toward greater success, we should surround ourselves with individuals whose drive and ambition inspire us to keep pushing harder, reaching new heights.

When we place ourselves among people with bold visions, their positive habits naturally influence and rub off on us.

■ A Proven Plan 

Since humans propose but God ultimately disposes, every wise person seeks to align their plans with God’s will.

Truth is, no matter how thorough our preparations and efforts may be, nothing brings greater fulfillment than having God on our side, guiding us rightly.

So if we feel that our very best efforts haven’t yielded the desired results over the years, then inviting divine help is precisely what we need.

Here, it’s crucial to understand that this involves obedience, willingly following His guidance as He directs us toward the path of His purpose for our lives.

When we engage in dishonest work yet expect His blessings upon it, we’re merely attempting to manipulate circumstances, revealing a misunderstanding of His true nature.

So before we conclude that trusting in Him hasn’t worked for us all these years, we should honestly ask ourselves whether that trust has been accompanied by genuine obedience.

This is the essential first step.

Summary:

When we give up on ourselves, we’re essentially settling for a life far below what our true potential indicates we’re capable of achieving.

This alone should serve as a powerful motivation to summon the strength to try again.

We're capable of achieving so much this year, more than in the years prior, doing so with a kind of joy that truly satisfies.

Yet, all of this is only assured when we commit to following the proven plan, finding it in God.

This is the ultimate source of confidence and assurance that we can!

Master Apprentice.

www.x.com/truekingmaker