Blog & Resources
“ Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
I have definitely done some growing, and I have learned over the years that it is important to have the courage to try; even if the thing that you try doesn’t end up working out.
There have been times in my life where I made a decision, moved forward with it, and then later realized that it wasn’t the best decision. But, the only way I learned that was to try!
When I was a teenager I loved hockey. It was my entire world. I never felt so alive as when I was out on the ice, flying towards the goal, with my hockey stick gripped between my hands. It was exhilarating and, at the time, everything that I wanted. So, at the young age of 17, I decided to pursue hockey as a career. I moved to Canada to play on an elite team. I left my friends and my family and everything familiar behind.
And it was HARD! Being disconnected from everyone and everything I knew was really challenging, and ultimately, I decided that it was not for me.
The next huge endeavor that I embarked upon was training to become a Navy Seal. This dream too fell by the wayside when I was diagnosed with asthma.
These were big dreams that I went for, that ultimately fell flat. This could be incredibly disappointing, discouraging, and even cause me to lose heart completely and just give up. But I never did.
This is because I view these experiences in life not as failures, but as crucial pieces of my life journey, and things that helped nurture my passion for fitness that got me where I am today!
See, when we view experiences, mistakes, and even failures as just part of our life’s journey then nothing can keep us down! We just learn, pivot, and try something new.
I am so thankful for every experience that I have had in my life, all of the ups, downs, and in betweens. If I had never pursued hockey, then I would never have found out that it wasn’t for me, and I might be plagued with regret. If I had never tried to become a Navy Seal, then I would not have those experiences training that were so crucial to me understanding physical fitness and igniting my passion to help others become physically fit and improve their health and lifestyles.
See, I had the courage to continue.
I had the courage to try something new. To not be afraid of failing, even if I had failed in the past. If one thing didn’t work out, well, I just regrouped, spent some time thinking, and moved on.
We can learn and grow from every experience that we have. When this is our attitude, then no experience can be considered a failure, and each day is a grand adventure. All it takes is the courage to continue, and the strength to recognize that everyone falls, everyone fails, but the real test of success is whether you pick yourself back up and keep going.
What are some of your favorite learning experiences and how have they changed your life?
Tell me about your courage to continue, and the things that you have learned!