Failure To Follow Through

For much of my life I have been a chronic procrastinator and a quitter! Sounds harsh, I know. Feels good to say though.

This sort of airy personality mix of mine is not all bad. I’m often spontaneous, creative, care-free, yada yada yada, and I really love myself. But, the truth is, there is a lot of weakness here rooted in fear and ego.

Right now, I am pursuing my boldest project yet: taking 18 months off from formal work to dedicate my time and energy to Four Quarters of learning and creating. These Four Quarters include language learning, computer programming, board game building, and stand-up comedy.

The single deciding force in the physics equation that is my Four Quarters project is…. Grit.

The problem — for many of us, at least — is clear. We live in an instant gratification era where perfection is perpetuated on social media. We are so accustomed to comfort that our muscles for overcoming challenges have atrophied. It’s easier to give up, give in, and stay comfortable than it is to strive, struggle, and succeed (or fail) in the face of something that we really want.

I really want these Four Quarters to succeed. And I will humbly accept failure if it comes from outside of my control. But what I can no longer take is a lack of follow through or fear of failure that prevents me from even entering the arena.

That’s all for blog #1. I will follow up with blog #2 soon, and now will leave you with these wise words from Teddy Roosevelt:

“...The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

—gritgrow

Jan 7, 2022