(Photo credit: Leon Tarac)
I like this wise saying from American author Napoleon Hill that, ‘one of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.’
Defeat can be an ongoing thing when we give up. Most of us know the story of Abraham Lincoln, how he failed severally before becoming a President people celebrate till today. I’ve seen countless temporary defeats (I’ll call it delay) in my short life, but do you know what I do? I learn from it and find out what caused the delay in the first place and do it again. And I tend to succeed,
I just don’t pack it in and give up!
Life is too short and too beautiful to give up at the first sign of defeat. I laugh at the face of danger and failure, because I have a dream of what my life should be and I’m not gonna rest till I achieve my goal and purpose in life. Do you know that you can beat cancer? Poverty? Low self-esteem? And all those dross of life that makes living akin to running a race in the mud! It’s all in your mind.
My husband used to say this and I agree, ‘you’re the only one that can make yourself happy… no one can!” And I will add this as well, that you’re the complete integral part or clue to your success in life. I can go on and on but I hope this week will be a great week for you… and if there is a temporary defeat lurking at a corner of your life, just pick yourself up and go again.
I wish you love and peace wherever you are in the world, and remember, temporary defeat doesn’t mean failure! Enjoy the rest of your week my friends!
Much love, always!
🙂
Seyi Sandra David 
Much love and peace to you as well
Thanks Pamela!
Blessings. 🙂
One of your best post, I love this! It fits my thinking , spot on!
Thanks Freddiejay, how are you? It’s been a while! Hope you’re good!
Much love. 🙂
Robert The Bruce and the Spider.
Good old Bob had been beaten, defeated, destroyed by the English. Driven into exile, hunted across Scotland, and he hid himself in a cave. He was lost, ready to give in. He sat there watching a spider. It would climb a wall and fall. Climb the wall and fall. Climb the wall and fall. The spider would not give in. Then it climbed and stuck a strand to the wall and proceeded to build a web. Bobby Bruce was inspired by this. The fact that the spider refused to give in time and time again. He rallied men to him under the “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” at the Battle of Bannockburn, he drove the English out of Scotland. I am proud of this because one of my ancestors was his right hand man there. Admittedly, he died early on in the battle, but Alexander Forbes was with Robert The Bruce.
If a spider doesn’t give in, if Robert the Bruce doesn’t give in, if Seyi Sandra David doesn’t give in, neither should anyone else.
Oh my God! Alastair Forbes, I’ve got tears in my eyes reading this! This is like a post on it’s own! Thanks for sharing this with me. It’s an Honour! I love it!! What a precious piece of history, you’ve got my adrenalin up my friend!! It’s just wonderful, there’s nothing like believing in victory against all odds…
Much love. 🙂
It is the try, try again that always gets me. I sometimes sit watching spiders building their webs. I resist the temptation to destroy it hehe
Don’t you dare!! Though I get your point, I’ve been tempted to do it once too.
I wouldn’t as it would be too nasty. I felt guilty when I pulled two branches apart and destroyed a web.
I think they got me back a couple of days ago. I have no fear of spiders, but when I looked to see what caught my eye to my right and saw a large spider sitting on my shoulder, I did freak. Serves me right for break the web
Ewww!! Must be scary…Now I’m sorry to hear that though I must confess that spiders could be scary, especially those tarantula types. It’s giving me the chills just thinking about it!
heh. Wasn’t quite that big, but it seemed like it when it said hello and waved at me
I would have fainted!!! You’re strong…
About 10 years ago, there was a hypnotist on TV who said that he could get rid of fears. It was a series of things that you had to do, tapping your face, rolling your eyes things like that. It cured me of arachnophobia
Really? I thought those guys were fake. That’s good then!
It may be psychological as it didn’t help my ex-wife. Although she did try and use snakes, and the chances of seeing one of them is remote. I saw a spider about half hour later and picked it up in my hands. Had I waited about a day, it may not have worked. Since then, I have really only had a problem with the really big brutes
That’s good, and I think you’re right, it’s a psychological thing. I can’t pick spiders with my bare hands, I’ll get crawly all over. 🙂
I used to. I had to use a glass and a sheet of something. Now I will giggle as it tickles my hand, I do still have a problem with some sizes though
Alastair! I don’t see what would make me pick a spider with my bare hand! Have a nice day dear friend. 🙂
Haha 🙂
Have a great day my friend
Cheers! 😉
I made myself happy by visiting your blog, and reading your very uplifting thoughts, my dear Seyi– now I know it’s going to be a lovely day! : )
That’s so kind of you my dear Mark, do have a beautiful day!
Much love. 🙂
Sandra, this is a wonderful post. Are back? It’s been a quite a while now 🙂
Thanks my friend, I came back on Monday, a week later than I originally planned! I’ll hop over to yours and read your wonderful poems to my heart’s content and I’ll still send a description of that Haiku for my new book!
Much love. 🙂
An inspiring post, sis. Yes, I also believe in a similar line that says “No one can tell you that you are a failure unless you count yourself as one.” While reading your post, I couldn’t help but nod my head in total agreement. Defeat, disappointment, set back will all come. But what defines a man is his ability to move forward with optimism.
Thank you for this post. It’s a gift!
Thanks for reading Uzoma, this morning before I went to work, I just took stock of my life and realised that I’ve never really call it a day in any of my projects, even when disappointment is staring me in the face, there’s always that inner resolve, and with the help of God, I always push on. I’m blessed to have a friend in you and honoured by your visits and kind comments!
Aloha.
This is all so true but I think sometimes along the way we forget how to make ourselves happy. So we look outside ourselves until we realize it again we are looking in the wrong place. Wonderful post.
Very well written – and yeah “temporary defeat doesn’t mean failure” – actually then one step back followed by 2 steps forward would be better than to stand still… 🙂
Beautifully written, you can’t fail if you don’t give up! Well done you!
🙂
Lots of wise words & good advice here – Thanks! 🙂 xo
Hey, running a race in mud is fun, I can remember tearing through swamps on foot as a young’n, but you had to keep an eye out for the snakes. Yes, it’s feels good to keep going after the first tact one takes doesn’t quiet work the way it was planed… Have a good week too, Seyi..
I love visiting with you, so I can get my inspiration for the day, have a safe weekend!! 🙂
Very wise sad and ou’re totally right when you make a failure, never give up because you can learn from it and again come out much stronger :)Thanks Sandra for this good positive post 🙂
Yes, yes & YES!
Girl, you preachin’!
i love this post i saved it and come back to it often and im well ive been working like mad to get this book out and im very close to launch its getting really exciting. i love writing
I know you do, and I wish you success in all you do my dear friend!
🙂