The following quote by John Quincy Adams inspired me to write a blog today:
“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect, before which difficulties and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams
In the past year I’ve certainly put in the patience and perseverance toward my self-publishing career, but the obstacles and difficulties seem to loom as high as ever. Still, “keep on keeping on” was the advice my ninety-year-old grandmother-in-law gave me many years ago. Since I considered her wise, I listened and have followed her advice.
Her words of wisdom have served me well, although the bumps in the road seem higher than ever.
One’s attitude toward problems can make life easier or more difficult. I try to seek solutions or find acceptance – depending on the challenge or setback… or current priorities. If I can’t solve a problem, usually I can learn to live with it or learn a valuable lesson from it. Bad or good, I try to use it in some way that benefits me and my goals. Sometimes it’s enough to learn what not to do.
Let us not forget what Tomas A. Edison had to say on this subject while trying to invent the lightbulb:
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison
Still one of the most difficult things to do is to embrace failure. Life coaches teach us to set goals, but when we fail to achieve them, how do we live with ourselves? What do we do?
Sometimes watching little ones work is a reminder not to take our failures so seriously.
SOMETIMES WATCHING LITTLE ONES WORK IS A REMINDER NOT TO TAKE OUR FAILURES SO SERIOUSLY.
I say embrace your bad result. I don’t mean wallow in misery or beat yourself up – although a little wallowing is good for the soul sometimes. Analyze the bad result. If you don’t admit you’re unhappy with your result… or deny and refuse to face facts with your disappointment, how can you do anything different and change?
It is with these thoughts that I look forward to another year of self-publishing and fresh challenges.
I will end with a final quote from Thomas A. Edison:
“Restlessness is discontent – and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man – and I will show you a failure.” – Thomas A. Edison
Hey, maybe I’m more of a success than I thought.