Without Action, the Status Quo Remains

The speech, known as The Man in the Arena made by Theodore Roosevelt in 1910, has resonated globally. And, through the power of his prophetic words, it has far overreached the audience in attendance.

The evidenced appeal extends into commencement speeches, inspiration for sports teams, and rallies igniting a winning spirit. Segments of the words have been tattooed on the bodies of many, while his words have been used in commercials and news bursts to lend a feel of uplifting achievement. The depth of his reach is attributed to the collective nature of consciousness, the thread that connects us all.

I, too, have been moved and touched by the simplicity and simultaneously profound message he so eloquently uttered more than 100 years ago.

It speaks to me of the courage to stand up, to take risks when those around us are not. When faced with ridicule and criticism, having the bravery to keep a straight back with an uplifted head. When defeat is called shameful, his words motivate, challenging our fortitude and commitment to self.

The Man in the Arena encourages us to make an effort, to follow our hearts when the consensus is to stay with the status quo.

To never endure defeat is the price we pay for triumph passing us by. Without the action of doing, we cannot succeed.

The fear of failure may lie at the heart why some never attempt. It can be linked to the deep toxic emotion of shame. Unlike regret or guilt, which pertain to our actions, shame attacks our self-esteem. The preservation of the self will prevent taking steps towards success, being locked in the anxiety of possible defeat.

To move beyond these feelings begins by acknowledging they exist. Bringing them into our conscious mind allows us to express the fear, thus understanding when it turns to sabotage. Shining a light on what is holding us back enables us to overcome the doubt with conscious efforts, reframing what is stopping us in our inaction.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Are you willing to compromise your passions by watching from the sideline? Or will your bravery fire you up, driving you towards your souls’ calling, asking you to stand up, becoming The Man in the Arena?

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” 

– Paulo Coelho