Curveballs
Life is a complicated and yet beautiful entanglement of thorns and roses. Just when you feel comfortable suddenly a multitude of paths open up before you and then you’re left deciding which is the right one to follow. Which one will lead to success and which one will lead to struggle? There is no doubt that life throws us curveballs and many times it’s when we are least expecting it. The key to understanding life is knowing whether you are in control of your life or if your life is in control of you.
When curveballs are thrown at us, no matter the amount or force, the initial reaction is one of disorder, an abrupt change in our lifestyle. How does one maintain a sense of control or stability, or even cheer and motivation when we feel as if we’re caught in a whirlwind of disillusionment? There is no simple answer or solution but it’s important to remain focused on your goals and aspirations because the light at the end of the tunnel or the carrot dangling from a string is the only thing that will keep you going.
You might never actually reach a comfort zone because it’s difficult to asertain certain situations, but keeping focused on what’s truly important in your life will not only save your sanity but keep you on track. In the scope of things, our lives are driven by the belief in ourselves and the support from our family and friends. A typical obstacle that stands inbetween our goals is our fear of failing. The fear that no matter what we attempt to obtain that we’ll lose grasp of it or never truly receive it. Being confident in yourself will eliminate any fear of failure because those who are confident realize that their failures are also their strengths.
As Bill Cosby once said:
In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.
When life throws you curveballs, take our your trusty glove and catch them midair.
11 Comments, Comment or Ping
gpshewan
I find you can’t always see the pitcher, and it’s the ones that come from behind and hit you square in the back of the head that are the real testers in life…
Terrible metaphor I know but I do get what you’re saying with this post.
Mar 15th, 2005
Max
I have failed miserably several times, and I’ve found that while it seemed dark at the time, those failures led to great opportunities eventually.
Mar 15th, 2005
kartooner
Gary: I know just what you’re talking about. Those curveballs in particular I didn’t cover but it should be noted they are just as important to watch out for.
Max: Yeah, those dark moments of failure are distressing and while you may seem in turmoil (which most likely you are) it’s best to just “go with the flow” and see where it leads to. I know, that’s easy to say, until you’re actually experiencing it.
Mar 16th, 2005
Donnie Jeter
As cheesy as it may sound, I found “Getting Things Done” to be a huge help in managing both time and curveballs in general. I don’t know if you have read it - I know there is a huge cult following surrounding David Allen and his book. I know Anil Dash and Merlin Mann (43 folders) are huge followers of it - heck, Mann named his site after the 43 folder concept presented in the book.
Mar 16th, 2005
kartooner
Donnie: Good tip and I’ll do some research on the book in question. Oh and Donnie? Sign up for a Gravatar already. :)
Mar 16th, 2005
Donnie Jeter
Did anyone notice? Somebody got a new Gravatar!
Mar 17th, 2005
kartooner
I noticed and it’s about time!
Mar 17th, 2005
markku
It’s not how many times you fall, but how many times you get up. =)
Yes, on occassion life deals a hand that you never expect, but you just have to play your cards and make the most out of it. Losing ain’t that bad, it’s not trying at all that sucks. =)
Mar 19th, 2005
Peter Flaschner
Once upon a time, while my business and life savings were going down the tube, a wise friend said “The measure of a person is not how they handle success, but how they handle failure.” Those words stuck with me through some really dark times.
The beauty of failure is that it teaches you how strong your really are, and puts the important things in context.
Mar 21st, 2005
Reply to “Curveballs”