Being self-aware and able to self-regulate yourself when things in life are going haywire is the truest test of emotional intelligence. When things are great, life is great! When finances, love, and mental and physical well-being are running like a well-oiled machine, a person’s system is in equilibrium, homeostasis is met; all is well inside and outside. Now add stressors to the mix and see what happens. Not intentionally, but unintentionally like the way life generally sprinkles stressors on every human being on earth. With every sprinkle of stress, the system takes a physical and mental hit. What happens to the system? Does it suffer a minor setback, but bounce right back? Does the system completely collapse? Does the system learn, adapt, and overcome? That’s the beauty of the system we call life, it’s trying to survive and thrive. I was watching the documentary of SpaceX and thought about how its story related to my life. SpaceX had failure after failure before it completed its first successful launch, keep in mind, on the brink of bankruptcy, with failure still being an option and the stakes at their highest since inception, it pulled through. Failure is a part of life, you wouldn’t have success without it, so embrace it. Failure holds vital lessons that if properly accessed can make your path on to success that much clearer and less challenging to attain.
A great quote from Jim Carrey that summarizes conservative choices, failure, and love
“My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. When I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job, and our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
In the end, it's important to pursue what we truly want and love, even in the face of adversity. During tough times, taking a few deep breaths and practicing self-awareness can help us weather the storm. And remember, just as April showers bring May flowers, the largest temporary sets back are the catapults for the greatest permanent comebacks. Opportunities are always out there; pay close attention and they might appear right before your eyes.
Head Up, Eyes Forward!
