What happens when you believe so hard, and it does not come true?
How do you feel when you have faith for something, and yet it does not come to pass?
I am reminded of someone trying to win a track meet or a marathon. The goal is to win. The goal is to put your best self out there to achieve something. And when it does not happen, you can feel disappointed because you did not win. You did not hit the standard you set for ourselves.
But what if we see it differently?
What if we see it as training to be our best selves? In preparing for a track meet or marathon, we become better. Our eating habits change. Our work habits shift. Our physical exercise improves. We become healthier, more disciplined individuals. Sometimes, we forget that becoming this better version of ourselves is also part of the journey.
So, when we do not win, it is not a waste. It does not have to be a disappointment or a question of whether we should have pursued the goal. Because in the end, if we are truly training, we are becoming better.
Alongside creating goals, I suggest making a list of who you would become when you take that next step. Write down what would happen if you trained for that marathon, applied for that job, or prepared for that extra credential.
Maybe you do not get it, but what would you become in the process?
- Do you become more resilient?
- Do you become more patient?
- Do you become more steadfast?
- Do you become more inspired?
- Do you become more encouraged?
The end goal is still the goal—but do not dismiss the person you become during the journey. Do not underestimate the impact you have, not just on others, but on yourself. You can work toward something difficult. You can do hard things. You can manage. You can schedule your time to reach a goal.
I wonder if the disappointment hurts more than not reaching the goal itself. Maybe the pain of not winning cuts deep because you feel like you let yourself down. But when your goal is not met, shift your focus to what you gained—and then push harder.
And then, celebrate. Celebrate with those who did win. Next time, it might be you they celebrate.
- How can you train harder?
- How can you push further?
- How can you endure longer?
If you keep training, it will come to pass.
Do not give up.
Do not give in.
