FAILURE FORMULA

TODAY'S QUOTE:
I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody... Herbert B. Swope

Making everyone happy isn't even possible, but some of us try anyway. The mad rush to please leaves almost everyone dissatisfied and the unhappiest will always be whoever is trying hardest to measure up.  Some people find joy in manipulation. They delight in dangling a carrot that can never be reached, but never dare to reveal their pleasure. Showing their hand would end the game... and the game is all they have.

When we become another persons pawn then they doom us to constant failure. They push and prod us into betraying our very nature to fit a pattern they design. Our stumbles become their ammunition and they delight in target practice. Old misdeeds are forever new... reminders are constant and relentless. If their disrespect isn't enough to bring us to our knees they gossip to anyone who will listen. Half truths and twisted facts are their favorite topics.

We change as we go, but never become any different in their eyes. They are reluctant to release a hostage who has given their all to a lost cause. If we escape they may be forced to take a closer look at their own shortcomings. Their petty and mean spirited issues cannot be blamed for our distance... so we once again become the favorite spiteful topic of conversation. Some believe... others don't, but the most vital thing is that we must refuse to carry that burden no matter what anyone thinks.

We have to learn to please ourselves and act inside of the boundaries set by our own nature. We have to struggle out of the costume worn to play the role they assigned to us. We have to stop caring about anyone who misunderstands us and begin to truly understand ourselves. We have to grow in wisdom and take responsibility for our actions. We have to forgive ourselves for what we allowed, and them for what they inspired.

After it's all said and done the most important issue is not how they see us, but how we see ourselves. Their approval isn't possible, so ours must be what we struggle for. We cannot fail there. As long as we are better tomorrow than we were yesterday we are a success. The size of our steps don't matter all that much if our feet are pointed forward. We are only doomed to failure if we take root in someone else's unreasonable expectations.

If we truly love the person we become then who else loves us doesn't hold such power. The right ones will love us, and the wrong one's will continue to judge us by who we used to be. Let them... it's their baggage to carry as soon as we set it down and walk away. Think about it... let it ride... then decide!!!