BUT FOR PERSISTENCE!!!

Dear beloved, there are a lot of factors that we've probably read or been taught/learnt on "how to be an achiever". I would like to share the famous story of  the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's.The first time I heard about his life I thought somebody is kidding me. I mean how do you fail  not 1 or 2 but 3 congress seats  in a row, 2 senate seats,throw in the Vice President's seat as well and you  still have the nerve to run for presidency? He is my favorite figure of all times as far as "persistence" is concerned;it cannot be explained better than through his life. I try get into his mind,and in his shoes but still find it so hard to perceive myself running for those political seats with unyielding determination after all those defeats. How did he do this?

Our human brains have a tendency of replaying  and focusing on the negative aspects of our lives more than the positives. You've got to have a powerful resolution not to allow anything negative that has happened to you  to impart in your thinking and judgement. I know of a preacher who had been told by almost 2/3 of the congregation that he had delivered a very powerful sermon and he felt he had been a blessing to many that day,but that feeling was short lived after 1 person told him,he did not understand his message. He suddenly became withdrawn and his entire afternoon was spent with a sad feeling,analyzing how he did not achieve his mission for the day.Sadly this is how we operate,just one negative comment and we forget all the good/positive energy we had all around us. Interestingly,the negative energy from this account was just from one person as compared to the 2/3 of the congregation who felt otherwise.Why do we give so much focus,time,energy to the few negatives in our lives? Why do we easily forget the positives that was going on around us before the sting?

It occurs to me then,we would rather have a record kept at  near arms length that reminds us of the positive things that have been in our lives. A record that we can read again and again till it sinks to us about the many blessings that we forget in a jiffy when that inadequacy feeling kicks in. We should have a record to stand on that we can use to run for our dreams despite the odds facing us. The world may not understand what you are doing,but you know better how at a certain point in your life you were able to do an excellent job and you can count on that moment and others too,to follow your dream. I would like to believe as much as Abraham's Lincoln highlighted story is that of a series of defeats,he must have had a record somewhere,where he would part his back,rely on that past achievable moment and  choose to persevere  for his dream against all the odds. I have given up before,and sometimes I look back and ask what if I had not? I have allowed failure to cloud my judgement on the kind of tenacity I have and stopped right before the race could begin.It might not be the same story with you,but failing once or twice,does not mean you lower the bar instead pick up the lessons and raise the bar higher! Let's emulate this persistence attitude that made history for the 16th American president.

Here is a summary of the amazing "failures" of Abraham's Lincoln public life:
 1831:Failed in business
1832:Ran for legislature and lost
1834: Failed in business again
1835:Sweetheart died
1836:Had nervous breakdown
1838: Lost second political race
1843: Defeated for congress
1846: Defeated for congress again
1848: Defeated for congress yet again
1855:  Defeated for U.S. Senate
1856: Defeated for Vice President
1858: Defeated for U.S. Senate
1860: Elected the 16th President of America.

May we have the persistence to follow our dreams no matter what.Amen.

Blessings,
MM.