Now that you realize that there is a separate type of success and that failure is learned, it’s time to examine how we come to fail then it is an undesired result. Could it be that the fear of succeeding within society’s definition of success drives a need to tip the scales onto what is perceived as failure in order to avoid the changes that success would bring in your life? Are you attempting to remain within the comfort zone that you have become accustomed to throughout your life? Did you learn that a certain amount of failure was not only acceptable, but expected? Fear of success is very real. Some people feel that the changes success would bring to their life would change their basic personality, causing them to become something they don’t want to be. In truth, that type of change only occurs because of choices made at the time that success enters one’s life. Also note that, as I have said before, success does not
have to mean fi nancial success. Th at is society’s definition.
“Your success depends mainly upon what you think of yourself and
whether you believe in yourself.”
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873-1962)
you as a person that will occur as a byproduct of success, consider the definition that you have set in place of success. Is it the same as society’s? Would you really make the choice to change in undesirable ways when you employ your success principles, and can you justify continuing to harbor failure in exchange for your own happiness? I think in the end, you will fi nd that the joy brought to you by the change of success in realizing your goals using your Natural Success Principles will exude to those around you. Th e changes will be more benefi cial than harmful and will create a desire in you to continue to use natural success over learned success.
If you are failing to reach outside of a personal comfort zone, then examine your idea of success. Perhaps you have already reached the
goals you see for yourself in life at this time. Maybe you feel some obligation to stay where you are and in the same situations. But if
you don’t like where your life has ended up at this point, then man or woman up and change it. No one else can change it for you, and no
one else will. If you don’t get off your rump and take charge of your situation, then you deserve to be where you are. Just don’t whine to the rest of us who choose to succeed. When you’re good and ready, you’ll make the eff ort to take responsibility and change your circumstance.
Once you do, you will find success a much sweeter option than what you have known before. If you are one of those who somehow got a mixed message on failure being acceptable and desirable but only in certain quantities, then you will need to change your viewpoint. You must learn to believe that failure is not an option under any circumstances. It isn’t okay to fail no matter what the writing on the wall may be telling you. Who wrote the stuff on that wall anyway? You did. That means you can change what’s there. You can make the eff ort to abolish failure from your acceptable outcomes of your circumstances. No matter the reason for failing at will, there is something that can help you overcome the obstacle of failure: Affirmation. Find it. Use it. Learn to believe it. Be persistent in your pursuit of affirmations. Change with the affirmations and start on the path that will end in the realization of your dreams.
