Never Give Up

If there’s one name you would not associate with failure, it’s probably Michael Jordan. But Michael Jordan’s story is one of overcoming obstacles, too. His path to success wasn’t easy and straightforward. In fact, most people would have given up, but not Michael. When asked about his success, he said, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

When Michael Jordan’s high school cut him from the basketball team his sophomore year, it was devastating. But he knew that he could be a great basketball player. He just needed to show everyone else that he was a great player. And he did. Michael Jordan is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and he attributes his success to failure.

Something to Think About
How many failures have you had in your life? Have you ever had what seemed like a setback, or failure, only to later discover that what you thought was a failure, was actually the door that opened to something better?

Weekly Activity
This week, when you get discouraged and want to give up, remember today’s lesson. Try again, or ask someone for suggestions. But don’t just give up. Find a way to make it happen.

Words of Wisdom
Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, or pain. To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices- today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. – Kwvyn Aucoin

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. – Lance Armstrong

Courage is feeling fear, not getting rid of fear, and taking action in the face of fear. – Roy T. Bennett

To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. – Taylor Swift

Pave your own path and be fearless. – Adam Draper