I think we can all look back to events in our lives where we felt that we failed.  It’s true for me a number of times in my life. I don’t remember where I heard this from, but it is some sound advice: “Have you failed? Try again. You say that you have tried again and failed again? Well, try again, and again, and again!”

Almost everyone knows Thomas Edison refused to quit. They say he tried about ten thousand items before he got the light bulb to work. I think we’re all glad he didn’t quit; you’re reading this article on your computer!

Oh Sure, Easy For Him, Right?

Some might say, “Oh, sure, Thomas Edison. You know, he was a brilliant inventor; it was easy for him not to quit.” Yes, it’s true he was a brilliant inventor, but he was still human like me and you. The fact remains he was not a quitter! 

Countless stories tell the tales of men and women who just refused to quit, refused to give up, and refused to give in. Those stories inspire me.  For those people, each disappointment was just another step closer to victory. That’s how they looked at it.

Far too many people look at a set back or a disappointment as a failure, and then they just quit. They abandon their dreams, they discard their goals, they put their plans in a drawer and just quit!

“Our Greatest Weakness Lies In Giving Up.”

Thomas Edison once said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Isn’t that a great attitude?  It also shows quitting is a choice, just as trying again is a choice. Having a positive attitude is a choice, just as having a negative attitude is a choice. Having and maintaining a positive attitude, regardless of the situations and circumstances, keeps you on the road to success. On the other hand a negative, defeated attitude, will most certainly keep you from having the success you desire.

Who’s Talking You Out Of Your Dreams!

Sometimes you may have the best of intentions to maintain a positive attitude, but then opinions of others talk you out of your dreams. Who’s talking you out of your dreams? Isn’t it interesting people many times are so quick to tell you that you can’t, instead of encouraging you and telling you, you can?

Regardless of what others say or think about you, it’s really up to you to tell yourself you can. It is up to you to refuse to quit. Refuse to talk yourself out of your own dreams.  

The Bible promises that if you trust in God with all your heart, and acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct your path.  That really is quite a promise when you stop and think about it.

Regardless of how you feel, regardless of what others are saying, and regardless of how many times you have failed, keep asking for His help and direction, keep seeking, and refuse to quit.

Stay Focused! 

Keep a clear picture in your mind where you want to go and what you want to do. It doesn’t matter where you’v been, or even where you are today. See yourself where you want to be tomorrow.

And remember, set backs are not the end of the road. They are obstacles you can overcome on your journey. Your goals and your dreams are yours. Whether or not anyone else cares about them or ever even encourages you, they are still yours, and they are important.

God really does care about your happiness and fulfillment. He is not in the failure business; He is in the success business. With His help, and His direction, you can be successful.

Every day the choice is yours: refuse to quit!