Do IT one more TIME

The Leap of Faith That Led to a Fall

Let me share a personal story that encapsulates the stark contrast between high expectations and the tough reality. When I decided to leave my comfortable corporate job to dive into the uncertain waters of entrepreneurship, I was fueled by a vision so compelling that failure seemed impossible. The project I embarked on was not just a business venture; it was a dream I was certain would succeed. Yet, despite my confidence and all-in commitment, it failed. This experience was my first real confrontation with the harsh truth that enthusiasm and hard work do not always guarantee success.

Embracing Failure as a Stepping Stone

This failure, though initially devastating, became a cornerstone of my personal and professional development. It taught me that resilience is not just about enduring failure, but about using it as a catalyst for growth. The journey from the high-rises of corporate certainty to the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship forced me to confront and recalibrate my definitions of success and happiness. It wasn't the success of the project that defined my journey, but my ability to persevere, learn, and adapt in the face of unexpected outcomes.

The Real Face of Happiness: Beyond Success

Happiness, I learned, isn't the product of success as often touted by motivational slogans. Instead, it's deeply intertwined with resilience—the capacity to find joy and purpose even when things don't go as planned. It's about embracing life's unpredictabilities and extracting wisdom from every experience. This understanding shifted my pursuit from a relentless chase for success to a more balanced appreciation of life's ups and downs.

Rethinking Our Pursuits

1. Question the Conventional Path: Challenge the societal blueprint that equates happiness with success. Dare to define happiness on your own terms, recognizing that it can coexist with failure.
2. Cultivate a Portfolio of Passions: Diversify your pursuits. Don’t hinge your happiness on a single outcome. Engage in multiple projects, hobbies, or interests to build a resilient foundation for your well-being.
3. Normalize the Talk About Failure: Share your stories of setbacks and how they have shaped you. By normalizing failure, we can foster a culture that values growth and learning over flawless victory.

A Quick Resilience Exercise: The "Three Blessings" Technique

To practically engage with and cultivate resilience, I suggest a simple yet profound exercise that you can start today: the "Three Blessings" technique. This exercise is rooted in positive psychology and is designed to shift your focus from what went wrong to what is going right—a core skill in building resilience.

Here's how to do it:

1. Reflect Each Night: Before you go to bed, take a few minutes to reflect on your day.
2. Identify Three Positive Things: Write down three things that went well during the day. These don't have to be major events; even small victories or moments of gratitude count.
3. Examine the Why: For each positive event, briefly note why it happened, focusing on your role in the outcome. This helps reinforce your sense of agency and the belief that your actions can lead to good things.

Why This Works:

This exercise trains your brain to recognize and appreciate the positives in your life, which is essential when facing challenges. By regularly practicing gratitude and recognizing your contributions to positive outcomes, you build a mental reservoir of strength that helps sustain you during tougher times.

Set Your Daily Resilience Reminder

Here's a practical step to weave the "Three Blessings" technique into your daily rhythm: set a daily alarm. Yes, it's that simple, but profoundly effective.

Here's your action plan:

1. Set a Daily Alarm: Pick a time each evening—perhaps right before you wind down for the day. Use your phone or any device with a reminder capability.
2. Title Your Alarm: Label it something inspiring like "Count My Blessings" or "Three Good Things." This serves as a motivational cue, reminding you of the importance of this exercise.
3. Commit to Seeing It Daily: The goal isn't to pressure yourself to complete this every day but to acknowledge the reminder daily. Some days you'll engage fully, other days you might just acknowledge its presence. Either way, you're building awareness and making resilience a part of your daily consciousness.

The Impact of Routine Visibility:

By setting this alarm, you'll ensure that resilience training remains a visible part of your everyday life. It's not just about doing the exercise every day—it's about keeping the idea of resilience and gratitude at the forefront of your mind. Over time, this small daily prompt can lead to significant changes in how you perceive and react to the world around you.

Final Encouragement:

Start today. Set that alarm and let it be a gentle, daily nudge towards a more resilient you. Whether you follow through each day or not, you're reinforcing the importance of resilience and positivity in your life. Let's see how this small step can lead to substantial growth in your resilience journey. Are you ready to take this simple yet impactful step towards building a stronger, more resilient self?

As we navigate the tumultuous seas of life, I invite you to realign your compass away from societal expectations and towards personal fulfillment. Embrace the lessons hidden in unexpected outcomes and redefine success as a spectrum that includes growth from failure. What can you redefine in your life today to turn your past setbacks into stepping stones for future resilience?

Let's strip away the facade of guaranteed success and engage in a deeper exploration of what it means to truly live and thrive amidst the unpredictable. Are you ready to join me in this raw and honest journey? Let’s redefine our ethos together.

With Love

Costa