Winning isn’t about who finishes first or being able to finish it the soonest possible time. Winning isn’t about competition or just wanted to get ahead of others. Sometimes, winning is just about finishing. Winning gives a lot of things. Not just finishing the struggle and achieving your goals. Sometimes, the process is even more valuable. The struggles you made, the determination you had, the perseverance, and the fact that you never gave up are the things that are more valuable than anything else. Winning or achieving your goal is just like a reward for all the hardships you made.Some people give up easily after being defeated. They are what we call, the losers. Winners don’t give up when defeated. They stand up and continue to fight the battle. Winners use their failure to learn. As they learn, they continue to grow and become stronger in facing each challenge they meet in winning.  Winners learn from their mistakes while losers give up so easily.

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to achieve your goal.  See a turtle cross a street?  It walks very slowly but it keeps on walking until it gets to its destination. It may encounter some challenges along the way but and its steps may be short, it keeps on walking because each step, no matter how short, still leads to its destination.  Their hard shell is the one that protects them from anything that may do them harm.  For us, let our attitude be our hard shell.  Focus, motivation, and determination will protect us from anything or anyone who wants us to fail.

We should not pressure ourselves of how fast or how soon we achieve our goal.  But it doesn’t mean that we just take it for granted.  Just keep in mind that we should not quit in any challenges we face and do not rush things up because we might overlook some important steps.  Taking one step at a time will still lead us to our goals.

Success is not having much money at all.  Nor having pleased everybody.  Success is being able to spend your life in your own way. Most people think that a millionaire is a successful person, or a very famous celebrity has attained success in his life.  Little did they know that not all millionaires, billionaires, or famous celebrities are successful.  Those who have lived and enjoyed their lives can be called successful.  There are millionaires or billionaires who have not even tried to do the simple things that they want to do because of their busy lifestyle.

Let’s consider an ordinary athlete.  It all started with his interest, fondness, or love for the sports he is into.  As an athlete, you begin with nothing but your skills or maybe talent.  His love and passion for that game drives him to win it.  He trains hard, masters his skills, focus in winning, and he is highly motivated to win the game because of his passion.  As an ordinary athlete, you don’t get much money in winning the game.  But can you see the fulfillment and happiness in their eyes when they win?  Its not the winning that we can call success but his feeling of happiness and fulfillment.

This is not to say that we should forget about fortune but this is to remind you that you should do the thing you love to do and not just because you get a fortune out of it.  Success comes with your love for your work.  What’s with the money if you don’t love the thing you do?  You won’t succeed if the thing you do does not feel good to your heart at all.

I found an inspiring story that speaks about the importance of love in success and wealth.

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.” “Is the man of the house home?”, they asked.”No”, she said “He’s out.” “Then we cannot come in,” they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. “Go tell them I am home and invite them in!” The woman went out and invited the men in. “We do not go into a House together” they replied. “Why is that?” she wanted to know. One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and then pointed to another one,”He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!!,” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”

“Let us hear our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be ourguest.” The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.” Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?” The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!”

source: heart n’ souls 

“Where there is love, there is also wealth and success.”  True indeed.  Love makes you alive, positive, and motivated.  Love from your family gives you moral support.  Love from your partner inspires you to continue winning your goals and dreams.  Your love for your work will make you alive and motivated.  These may all lead to wealth and success.

Have you had your goals all set?  Goal setting is one thing we need to do in order to achieve our goals.  But don’t get too hype in setting it.  Because before you have to set it, ask yourself first what it is you really want?  Then try to analyze if it is really what you want or if you just chose that as a goal because it sounds good?  Or you just chose that goal because its what you parents have been telling you ever since?  Know in your heart first what you really want.

Some may be scared of doing what they want because their parents have high expectations on them.  There are people who lives in the shadow of their family or their older brothers and sisters.  An example is a boy was expected to be a doctor just like his 2 older brothers and his parents.  The pressure then rests on him and his aim is to be like a doctor as well.  But he also likes photography.  Actually, he loves photography.  He just never realizes it and never thought of pursuing it because of the pressure set on him by his family.  Problem here is that no matter how he tries and tries, he cannot get the top grades that his parents want.

His heart is not in medicine but rather in photography.  He should have set his goals in photography and not in medicine.   But it is also possible that he can achieve his goals in medicine but there would be an issue of fulfillment, happiness and regret.  The same is also true if you set a goal just because it sounds good and people will like it.

One lesson that nature has taught me is the lesson of positivity. After the rain, we expect a beautiful rainbow, a shiny day, or a calming and peaceful feeling. After the winter is a beautiful spring. After a dark night is a welcoming sunrise that gives you a fresh morning to start your day.

It is a positive thought that we can put in mind every time we feel down or face a setback. Once we have put this in mind, quitting will be out of the way and a positive outlook is all we’ve got to succeed. When it rains, do we quit living our life? No. We stay positive and hope for the sun to come. Sometimes, we even go with the flow of the rain by enjoying it while its there. It only means that during our setbacks, we must not lose hope. We must live life and be positive about succeeding in our dreams or goals.

Just like the beauty of nature, we must not let the setbacks in life be the reason to quit. Consider failure to be a temporary setback just like the rain. When the rain goes, the sun shines and so is our success.