Resolve to succeed despite life’s contrary circumstances

BY DANIEL COLE

Most people settle for what life gives them. The Irish playwright and political activist, George Bernard Shaw once said, “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” Life is full of contrary circumstances that stand in the way of our success and progress. William Federick has rightly observed, “There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet.” 

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl, the Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor wrote, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” History abounds with stories of great men and women who despite life’s contrary circumstances and the odds stacked against them has gone on to put a dent in the universe and leave behind footprints in the sand of time.

Federick Douglas, who was paralyzed from the waist down, rose above his physical limitations to become the president of the United States. Viktor Frankl, imprisoned at several concentration camps by Nazis. His wife and family were killed, but despite these circumstances, he wrote the book, “Man’s Search For Meaning” one of the ten most influential books in the United States. At the time of his death in 1997, the book had sold over 10 million copies and had been translated into 24 languages. Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer, yet, she was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the face of life’s contrasting odds, they lived a life of impact and significance. What’s your excuse?

The works of the great composer, Ludwig van Beethoven transcends time, but he was deaf. When his magisterial 9th Symphony premiered in 1824, the composer had to be turned around to see the audience cheering — he could not hear the audience’s rapturous applause. Widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived, Beethoven dominates a period of musical history as no one else before or since. You are either making an excuse or making a difference.

A lot of success in life comes because of tough personal choices people have made in spite of their bad start. It’s too easy to blame our parents and home life for our problems, but it’s all about the daily choices we have to make as adults in the now. Life is hard, and success comes at a price. John Maxwell said, “You can pay now and play later, or you can play now and pay later. But either way, you are going to pay.” Make hay while the sun shines. Put in the work for your dream. The difference between excellence and mediocrity is effort, and the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the “extra”. Success takes courage and sacrifice. Remember, if it was easy, everyone would do it.

In life, you will fail your way to success, but if you don’t give in, and you don’t give up, with dedication and hard work, you will succeed. Aristotle has rightly said, “The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.” 

John Locke once said, “Things of this world are in so constant a flux that nothing remains long in the same state.” In other words, life and circumstances are always changing and we need to be hopeful in that and be glad that negative circumstances are not fixed forever. If life changes, then so can we.

In your resolve to succeed, beware of pursuing things for which you are not gifted. Sometimes our “finding a way to win” is sheer stubbornness. In the end, the ridicule we get is deserved. Some things are not meant to be, and sometimes, it is impatience that sends us off on a tangent.