Why do some human beings withstand unbelievable pain and suffering — trauma that is epic in its cruelty and viciousness, while others fold at the first blush of evil? What inner resource allows certain people to endure where others fail? Throughout history, something remarkable has persisted in human nature: the will to succeed.
Helen Keller, (1) for example, was born into a world of confusion and absolute chaos, a blank existence, a corporeality of darkness. She overcame these unbelievable handicaps to eventually become a highly influential and esteemed woman. Yet, others possess every advantage available and fail to achieve anything at all, and live out dissolute lives. Thus, birth is not a guarantee of achievement. Every life, regardless of circumstance, can seemingly succeed or fail.
The advantages of even the most well-born individuals mean very little to success. The rich and beautiful fail as many times as the indigent and unwashed. (2) Obviously, nothing is a foregone conclusion in one’s life. What is present in all of the successful people in life is a fundamental desire — I will achieve my goals, regardless of the strife, regardless of the setbacks, and regardless of the pain. I will triumph, or at the very least get on the path.
Dr. Victor Frankl’s (3) most important contribution, after he lost everything in the death camp — his social position and the demise of all of his family — was his belief in the future. He framed his reality such that life has a mission; the circumstances that exist at the moment need not necessarily continue forever. When all is lost, there will still be a tomorrow. As long as I have consciousness, there is hope.
In the present era, this sounds like a very foolish claim. Millions of young people have lost their way and are totally despondent about the world they live in. (4) What only exacerbates the chaos is that we live in the Age of Comparison. When one feels the lowest and most vulnerable, this movement is thrust into our consciousness through social media.
What, then, is to be done? First, a person must learn to trust the self, and then place trust in something greater — God, Gaia, or the Universe. One must feel upheld by a power beyond the isolated ego. With such a partner, the individual becomes strong. The cosmos, in its vast impartiality, ultimately yields what one is willing to work for and worthy to receive.
But conviction alone is not enough. The will must be trained. It is a cultivated mindset, nourished by knowledge. To read — and then read more — is a basic discipline. A daily routine is a requirement to nurture this inner formation. Upon waking, one might spend a few minutes in quiet contemplation, offer gratitude through prayer, write briefly in a notebook, and then begin the day with intention. These small acts establish an inner architecture capable of supporting meaningful effort.
Those who live purposeful lives eventually realize something essential: that among more than eight billion human beings, each person has a unique mission. To be alive is a great gift; to recognize one’s responsibility to others is a greater one. The will to succeed is not merely the aspiration to rise above personal suffering — it is the yearning to contribute, to strengthen the world, and to help others discover their own path to fulfillment. Winston Churchill leaves us with a thought: Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.
A closing thought: Life is given to every human being as both gift and challenge. To fulfill it, we must cultivate resilience, the disciplined capacity to advance despite adversity. The will to succeed — rooted in our innermost being — remains the primary source of strength that enables this perseverance.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about the desire to be successful in life, whatever that means to me.
To be noted: Deal with the faults of others as gently as your own.
Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwhkBAeheM&list=RDaRwhkBAeheM&start_radio=1
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L0L_zqBF4I
This week, on your reflective walk, please think of your own resilience — your will to succeed.
Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: Never, ever, ever give up on you.
Footnotes:
1) https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helen-Keller