Setbacks or Setups?

Do ankle weights slow us down or make us stronger? Well, that depends on who you ask.

Like ankle weights, the problems we face in life can result in us becoming slower or stronger. Yet, neither the ankle weight nor life issue decides which outcome occurs. We do.

I'm originally from Philadelphia, and like most major cities, seeing homeless people is an unfortunate yet frequent sight. If you were to talk to any of them, they would tell you the same thing. In a nutshell, they would explain that they encountered a challenge in life, and for whatever reason, they didn't overcome it. In short, the challenge won.

While not homeless, many people live mediocre lives---not quite homeless, but equally so, not living up to their potential. When questioned about their failure to fly, they, too, would tell you the same thing. With little variance, they would tell you that they encountered an issue that, although they technically beat it, it caused them to never want to try again. To validate, look no further than those who've been divorced and have since vowed to never remarry.

Interestingly enough, if you talk to those who seem to excel in every aspect of life, they, too, will tell you a story that varies very little. They would tell you of a challenge they overcame, and in doing so, learned that the level of difficulty doesn't change the fact that every challenge can be beaten.

But what about you?

Think about the past challenges in your life. Were they setbacks that slowed you down or setups that made you stronger?

Like ankle weights, you get to decide.