Push ahead

I came across a quote that read “it’s the will, not the skill.”

The first month of 2020 has been rather busy for many of us. In my case, after a long bout of the flu, I think it’s safe to say that I hit the ground running and it looks like I am welcoming the Chinese New Year with a lot of work ahead. I love it though – work that is. To a certain extent, I am what many may call, a work-aholic.

But as I got older, I have also come to appreciate the life lessons I have experienced all throughout my professional life, especially in terms of being better in the work that you do.

Life-long learning is also an attitude. It is the ability for one to continue to seek improvement whether it be in oneself or in our careers. I’ve come therefore to the conclusion that,  in everything, one sure formula to success is both the ability to persevere and practice temperance.

I know, I know, this is easier said than done – admittedly, even I am constantly challenged. However, because I’d like to think that I’ve somewhat learned the art of self-awareness, I can, and at the very least, say that I am conscious about how attitude has much to do with one’s success.

We all have our God given talents, yet this is never the story we hear when it comes to celebrating success. The best success stories have always been adversity driven – it’s about getting up eight times after falling seven. This is because, success includes the building of one’s character. It is about being polished and rising above all our trials victorious.

If you really think about it, an athlete is often beat, bruised and weighed down, and a champion only arises despite the odds. So yes, going back to the quote that I have earnestly been pondering about all week, I’m one of those that truly believe that it is the will that gets you to the finish line.

Our skills can be both inherent or learned but, what good is a skill if we do not use it, hone it, and best of all, champion it.

In the story of our own lives, there is only one victor – and that victor is you. The only person we have to worry about everyday when it comes to achieving our goals is ourselves and this takes mastery.

The question really is, are we willing to master our own selves?

In my opinion, self-mastery is a greater expedition and more often than not, we tend to set it aside as our busy schedules consume us and yes, let’s admit it, it is easier to look “into” others rather than “into” ourselves. The outside world is all about externals and I suppose this is why it makes it harder for us to look into what we can improve within us for further growth.

Every amazing success story we read will tell us one thing about their triumphs and that boils down to knowing yourself better while continuing to push forward.

So when life drags you down, pause and “return” to yourself to see how you can learn to flex and bend, swim,  or dance throughout a difficult situation,  and just keep on going. When we persevere, we commit to excellence and when we practice temperance we commit to mastering ourselves.

So push ahead. There are so many possibilities to get things done. It’s all in the will.