How to Succeed – Keep Trying {Motivation Monday}

I’ve been reading a lot of self-improvement books lately, and I’ve been learning some great stuff as I go. Many of the teachings remind me of the Project Think Positive challenge I hosted a couple years ago here on The Chic Life. I tend to get a little negative at times, so I’m working on injecting more positivity into my everyday life. One thing I’d like to do is start the week on a positive note by sharing a quote that inspires me.

This week, the quote I’m sharing is about How to Succeed – Keep Trying {Motivation Monday}:

How to Succeed - Keep Trying {Motivation Monday}

In case you can’t see the image, the quote reads:

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. ~Thomas A.. Edison

I’ve felt like many things I’m working on in recent months just aren’t going my way. It’s like no matter how hard I try to make something work, it just doesn’t go as planned. It’s easy to keep going at first. Or when it’s only one or two things going wrong. But when things start piling up, the outlook starts getting more bleak. The easy out is to quit. It’s simple to not try new and interesting things. But, if you want to live an exceptional life and the best you that you can be, you have to keep going. And when hope is low, you have to pull from your will to try one more time. And then one more time again.

I developed a strong sense of determination from my years training in figure skating. When you’re working on a new jump, spin, or other move, it may be months or even years before you finally nail it. If you quit the first time (or even first hundred times) you tried something new and it didn’t work, you’d never learn how to do any moves. You’d never be great.

I remember when I almost gave up on my dreams of being a dance fitness instructor with the company I’d danced with for over two years. I auditioned in 2009 and didn’t make the cut. Luckily, the auditions were held privately, so although most people knew, it was somewhat easy to move on from that failure. Over the next year, I worked with a couple of my instructor friends to learn about how to be an instructor. By the next year, I felt pretty prepared but also extremely apprehensive about auditioning again. Not only could I not imagine how I’d deal with not making it two years in a row, but the last round of auditions was public. Like one of the biggest classes you’d ever teach, with almost a hundred people in the room public. Once the application process opened, I waffled. I was scared of failing again. But, my resolve to become an instructor was greater than my fear of failing. I knew I had to try at least one more time. I pulled out all the courage I had and just went for it. And this time, I made the team! I’ll actually be celebrating my four year dance-versary (anniversary of teaching my first full class solo) this month, and I can’t really imagine it any other way.

Whatever challenges you’re going through now, consider this quote to help motivate you and remember to try just one more time (again and again). Keep going and work towards reaching your fullest potential in all your endeavors. Maybe print the graphic above and post it on your mirror or put it on your desk at work. I’m working to surround myself with positive and motivational words and images, and I’m loving it so far! It definitely puts me in the right frame of mind for success!

What’s your One More Time success story?

***

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more great content!

6 thoughts on “How to Succeed – Keep Trying {Motivation Monday}”

    • Sorry to hear that! Hopefully, the difficulties are because your dream rental just isn’t quite ready yet or you haven’t found it yet! Good luck!

      Reply
  1. I’m so glad we met up at Fitbloggin and also, I loved this post, I had to pin it! I needed to hear this this week… I feel off the wagon hard with my financial savings goals. With a few big expenses, my emergency fund is down, way down and I’m behind on my wedding savings goal so I was feeling pretty defeated. 🙁 Thanks for the boost!

    Reply
    • Hi Shannyn! Me too! Thanks for stopping by and pinning this post! You’re a very organized and motivated person. I’m sure you’ll get everything back in order soon! You can do it! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Comment