Courage, Mindset and Character

"When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future."   ~Queen Elizabeth II 

How do you handle difficulty and defeat? If you have a growth mindset, it’s likely that you see it as nothing more than a roadblock on your path to success or a learning opportunity as you keep pushing forward toward your dreams. However, if you have a fixed mindset, then you may see it as a reason to quit and give in to the seemingly paralyzing effects of failure.

In addition to your mindset though, a lot can also be learned about a person's character if you observe them during difficult times. They will show you their victim side or their victor side. They will show you their pessimism or their optimism. Their kindness or their bitterness... And as the quote says, those who are courageous will show that they are strong and courageous, in their actions and determination. While all too often, those who are afraid of difficulty or failure will never take the risk to move forward.

Now remember, that doesn't mean that those who are strong and courageous never fail. Quite the contrary - what it means is that they aren't afraid of failure because they don't see it as defeat. They see it as an opportunity to learn and try again. (This goes hand and hand with the growth mindset.) And most importantly, they know that their failures do not define them but rather, it's how they show up in the midst of difficulty and failure that will exemplify their true character. The strong and courageous don't have excuses for why they quit, they have reasons to keep pushing on towards their dreams of creating a better future.

So, the big question is, which will you be? I say...be courageous! (And by all means, have a growth mindset!)

I believe that 99.9% of the time, "reasons" are just excuses in disguise. So how many "reasons" do you have for why you haven't created the life of your dreams yet? Pay attention to how often you use excuses when life gets difficult. It's time to step boldly forward, past the excuses that have been holding you back. Try eliminate all excuses this week. Then send me an email and let me know how your life shifts in just this one week. When you are courageous enough to keep pushing forward towards a better future - no matter what - you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. It's time to be courageous!

***Join me for more on this subject during the next Weekly Wisdom, Live Community Chat at 2:30pm Mountain (1:30pm PT, 3:30pm CT, 4:30pm ET) in the Success Mastery Community. Learn what those who are the world's highest performers already know about how to be courageous and master your mindset so that fear doesn't hold you back from achieving your dreams any longer! Not a member yet? No problem... Join HERE!