Rewards for those who preserve far exceed the pain that must precede victory.

~ Ted Engstrom

 

Rhea Bullos, an 11-year-old track athlete in the Philippines, won three gold medals after competing in makeshift “sneakers”  she fashioned with tape and decorated with a hand-drawn Nike swoosh.  Although this was an internet sensation a few years back, the story holds its power in reminding us what can be accomplished with fortitude, tenaciousness, and desire.

If success were easy, everyone would do it, so what separates those who cross the finish line and those who don’t? Over time, in first-world countries, we have gotten soft. Our day-to-day living is easy. So much of life is a flip of a switch convenience. We have become complacent and take life’s comforts for granted.

We don’t like the feeling of discomfort, and when something doesn’t go as planned, we identify it as unbearable. Our worlds are disrupted when the WI-FI is down, or power is out for a few hours.

Many look for the easy way out or opt-out when the going gets rough. Falling, and making mistakes, physically and emotionally, is where we gain experience to turn our pain into strength, yet we often want to bypass this education arena.

Doing dangerous things carefully is when we learn. By interfering when kids are exploring their limits, we rob them of the opportunity to grow, and when we shelter ourselves from moving outside of our comfort zones, we are doing the same.

How to Turn Pain into Strength

Pain is temporary. The effort and struggle, whether physical or mental, is real, yet it will pass. Those who succeed and push past it know that mental fortitude is the determining factor; it can withstand the challenge or give in. For me, the pain is incidental compared to the outcome. Without effort, I could not attain what I am striving for, so it is a mindset adjustment and appreciating the discomfort is a part of the journey.

People who understand how to preserve have these qualities.

  1.  They are persistent. They don’t give up.
  2. They learn from failure.
  3. They believe in themselves.
  4. They trust their judgment or intuition, so they are self-reliant.
  5. They set attainable mini goals, leading to the desired final goal.
  6.  They understand the value of patience with themselves and with the process.
  7. They take action. They are doers and not talkers.
  8.   They have the discipline to stay on course and understand when to set a new one if needed.
  9.  They challenge their perspective of knowing and are willing to look at the situation from various angles.
  10.  They are optimistic about the approach and the outcome.
  11.  They are self-starters and self-motivating.
  12. They know how to maximize and prioritize time.
  13. They surround themselves with the right people, those that encourage, contribute, and facilitate growth.
  14. They don’t need outside kudos; each step they take forward is a win, regardless of the opinions of others.

 

Finding strength through resistance is a trait carried by those unwilling to give up when things aren’t going as planned. Examples are everywhere of those who go the extra mile, fight for what they believe in, and sometimes the most straightforward reminder is of a young girl named Rhea who ran to her heart’s content in “sneakers” made of tape with a Nike swoosh ensuring she could just do it.

“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.” (Dweck, 2015)