👣🔄 🔙 Why Expect Setbacks
The more we embrace our setbacks the less we will fear experiencing them.
Dear Why Team member,
I hope this week’s message finds you well and encouraged.
Recently, I had the pleasure of doing some rock climbing in South Dakota - specifically an area called the Needles - and getting to see Mt. Rushmore for the first time - Wow! Incredible achievement.
The climbing ethos in South Dakota is that less is more - less available insights on the climbing routes to preserve the experience had by the early trail blazing climbers of old. Basically, figure it out :-)
My climbing guide Matt Walker and I had several experiences where it was necessary to back track after encountering no way forward - more so than on any of our previous climbs together.
In our modern world, where great pains have been made to pave clearly our paths forward - we can become even more frustrated when we’re at a loss for what direction to take. Throw in a little fear of failure and the result is often inaction and discouragement.
But imagine becoming more comfortable with setbacks - dropping the word ‘failure’ and using the word ‘feedback’ instead? Did Edison fail 1600 times to make a light bulb, or did he discover 1600 ways to not make a light bulb?!
Tony Robbins once said that: “our primary problem is that we believe we shouldn’t have any.”
Here’s a never losing approach to life:
‘Win or Learn’ not ‘Win or Lose’
It’s particularly difficult to experience a setback after making great progress and especially when you’re close to reaching a goal. Setbacks can be demoralizing; they can loom large in our psyche and really mess with our worldview that hard-work brings great outcomes. Yet, it’s the hard work despite the tough outcomes that can bring the greatest success. Muhammad Ali said, “You don't lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down."
Outcomes do not define the quality of a choice because we didn’t have the outcomes available when we made the choice. Dr. Ellen Langer, author of the book Mindset, says she doesn’t worry about making right decisions - because she makes her decisions right. She can work them to good - living and learning.
When you experience your next setback - be not surprised - setbacks do not have to be a problem, but rather can be great opportunities to learn and grow.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
We learn a great deal from our setbacks - they develop our character and help us make more informed decisions going forward. Setbacks, feedback, are opportunities for growth on our journey of life. And the more we embrace our setbacks the less we will fear experiencing them.
Living, learning, and choosing ever improving paths forward - with persistence and patience - you will grow through, not just go through, your setbacks to live your BEST LIFE EVER!
Make it a great week!
Steve Luckenbach