Old dogs give up the first time it gets hard. The hate to look silly or look like anything is hard for them.
We don’t like to struggle and, even worse, we don’t want anyone to see us struggle. Kids take months to learn to walk. Years to learn to read and write. But then when we grow up, if we aren’t instantly good at something, we give up. We get really frustrated and can’t figure out why it’s EASY for everyone else.
Kids spend years taking swimming lesson, but as an adult, if you had to learn to swim and didn’t get to do laps on the first day, you would think of yourself as a total failure. One key is perseverance. Another is not caring that we look like when we don’t know what we are doing. For some reason we think everything has to look effortless. Everyone has to be an “overnight success” or it isn’t worth it.
When I go for a run, I don’t want anyone to think it was hard. When I do my workouts, I don’t want anyone to see that I’m struggling.
I’m changing my attitude. I’m saying make it look exactly as hard as it is. Screw what other people think. It’s hard for you to study. So what? You have trouble remembering things. So what?
You figure it out for you. You make it happen. You persevere. Let them see you sweat. Be proud of the sweat and the pain when you earn them. Wear them like medals.
Don’t pretend like you don’t really need to study. Carry your books with you. Crack them open whenever and wherever you are. You are on a mission. A mission to pass your exams. Don’t worry about what anyone thinks of you or wants from you. You have a mission to accomplish at all costs.
The Final Step will help you with that mission.
Brian Wallace
