Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

Article: The Struggle is Guaranteed, Success is Not

The Struggle is Guaranteed, Success is Not

The Struggle is Guaranteed, Success is Not

If you've already failed in a big way in life and learned to see it as a positive event, does it make you immune to fear of future failure?⁣⠀

Sadly, no, not for me. I fully admit that the idea of failure still terrifies me, sometimes keeps me awake at night.⁣⠀

But then I remember the truth.⁣⠀

In my mid 20s, a few years after graduating from university and holding down my first real job, I found myself living a double life as a heroin addict working at a financial institution. Can you imagine? Not good.⁣⠀

Over the course of 4 years, I went from someone who was honest, responsible, and hardworking to someone who was -well, not. I lied, cheated, and stole and did many things I truly never thought I was capable of. (Interesting how that can go both ways.)⁣⠀

I wanted to get clean from about 3 months into my addiction, but I had many conditions around it. I had to get clean without anyone (especially my parents) ever finding out about my problem. I could not miss work. It couldn't cost any money. It had to be my way or the highway.⁣⠀

It was only when I was ready to fully surrender to the notion that I would do whatever it took to get clean - if the whole world knew about it - fine. If I had to leave behind my entire world and move away - so be it. If I had no credit for the next 5 years - you get the picture.⁣⠀

From where I sit now, looking back at myself 21 years ago, I want to say to that self - "You see? It all worked out fine - better than fine, actually. So don't be scared."⁣⠀

So, back to my present self and current fear of failure - I wonder what I'll be saying to this self 20 years from now? 

Leave a comment

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

All comments are moderated before being published.

Read more

What I remembered when I drank the sacred plant medicine ayahuasca

What I remembered when I drank the sacred plant medicine ayahuasca

“You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. We think so often that we are helpless, but we're not. We always have the power of our minds…Claim and consciously use your power....

Read more