Should we give up: 5 reminders to never giving up

Whether it is Taylor Swift trying her luck at love, or Rihanna finally getting a baby girl, maybe it is Luffy looking for the One Piece for more than 27 years, Ash being the same age for more than 20 years, It could be Goku constantly being a dead beat in search of strength to protect the family he constantly abandons, Wayne Rooney trying to get his hair back, One thing is for certain and two things for sure, they all don’t give up on their passions, the journey that they believe will bring them joy and whatever form of rest they may have when they get those things. But what if the journey is too long? What if our light at the end of the tunnel has been met with Electricity shortage and the tunnel has caved in or collapsed? what if the trials and tribulations have tried, tribulated and possibly won a little? should we then give up? I have reminders on how I personally do not give up; hopefully they might be useful to you in your journey.

FREQUENT REMINDERS

It is really hard to see progress when everything else is falling apart, this is also true for people who are even going through a successful run. I remember listening to T-Pain share his story on how he felt really bad since everyone was trashing auto-tune and he thought it was his fault, as he was going through the motions like that he felt like the world was against him not knowing there were so many people in his DM trying to reach out so that they could work with him. But to the rest of the public, he was successful, you could not escape T-Pain and denying him would be like denying a belly-button when we all have it.

Firstly I had to remind myself that I can do it even though it isn’t always working out. I had applied for a few programs so I could get a Masters Degree, at the same time I was constantly trying to get into the UN job world. I applied, no response, applied again, no response, schools were responding but the timing was never in line with my pockets, headspace and simply I didn’t think I was ready. I had to ask a friend of mine to touch up my application and that was the first time I got shortlisted (of course I didn’t get in), then I wrote another one by myself and I got shortlisted (never made it as well). Not a typical success story but once I started getting shortlisted I then realized that it actually was possible, I was actually doing it so I shouldn’t give up. This would be different for someone else, they may get in earlier and then get out and start struggling to get in again, or it may be a habit that helped with your well-being and it is getting harder to get into it again, if you did it once then you can did it again (jokes but yes you can do it again).

IT IS NEVER FINISHED BUT IT IS STILL GREAT

This is a second reminder that I had to tell myself, sometimes unfinished work is still great progress. Gilbert Stuart and his Lansdowne portrait, Da Vinci’s The Mona Lisa , Paul Cézanne’s portrait of Gustave Geffroy, and these are only pictures that were never finished due to different circumstances (I am not saying to let those circumstances play out for you or myself, so that our work could be considered great), I am just saying that their work was still considered great even though unfinished. So imagine what you have started and strive to accomplish how great that could be. The bar with my examples could be considered too high, but I strongly believe it is within us to work hard and finish the hard work that we strive to do, that alone is greatness, so imagine what our hard work can accomplish whether mid-way but truly seeing it through.

DISAPPOINTMENTS COME BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO LAST

One’s best success comes after their greatest disappointments.

–Henry Ward Beecher

Well if this isn’t motivation for you it sure is motivation for me, after an opportunity just passed me by because of various circumstances. I have been devastated to say the least. But I am hoping that the words of Henry will sure come true for me. I have seen people work out the best of scenarios through their greatest disappointments so why not look at my own situations like that. If memory serves me well, the third president of Malawi once got the least amount of votes but he pursued it and never stopped, he eventually became president and event became the African Union Chairman; eventually wrote one of Africa’s best books on unity and growth, I would not be here talking about him if he gave up and allowed the disappointment to dwindle his growth and vision. This is why that is a third reminder to encourage you to not give up.

THROUGH COMPARING THE GOOD; THE BAD WILL EVENTUALLY BE OUTWEIGHED

Serena, Jana, Leah and Olandria, Kordell Beckham and Miguel Harichi, are arguably some of the most famous people that came out of Love Island. When you look at their story, man the sadness is wild, but they came out on top and made the best out of their worst situations ever. This fourth reminder is here to let us know that not all bad situations have to remain bad and traumatic forever, we can work out through help and guidance that way we are able to flip, swipe it or reverse and make a complete 180° of that situation. Normally people view comparison in the negative sense since it is always outwards, constantly comparing oneself to another. So many people have talked, sung, spoke, screamed and even cried how that is the beginning of losing joy and spiraling to the pits of hell. Healthy comparison is looking at our own situation and then comparing that with how we overcame other situations and then work towards making the best out of that not looking at others and wishing that was us.

REFLECTION

The final reminder is to really be kind to yourself, you are trying are you not? so never compare with others for it will bring hurt and disappointment, but if you do just don’t forget to slowly work out of it and find a proper ground where you are fully settled and able to move again. Resilience brings more joy after the rain is done, but if it continues to pour maybe we could dance in the rain and find ways to use that to our advantage, patience is within all of us but it is a seed that we have to water so that it grows in our everyday habits, with these as reminders, I believe not just you but even myself; we will surely, NEVER GIVE UP.

Thank you for taking your time in reading my random thoughts, don’t forget to leave a like or comment or even subscribe so you are notified whenever I drop. I appreciate your continuous support. Hope this will be a nice way to start your Week.