@web smith

“But every circumstance is conditional. Consider the favorable situations first - loyalty, brotherhood, friendship. None of it is permanent. These states of being can flourish between people during the day and be reduced to a memory by night fall. Unfortunately, that’s the way that life seems to work. But every circumstance is conditional. Consider the painful situations next - despair, misfortune, solitude. None of it is permanent. These states of being can flourish during the day and be reduced to a memory by night fall. Fortunately, that’s the way that life seems to work. With regards to favorable circumstances, cherish them all - until the very end of today. And for those painful circumstances, persist despite them all - until the very end of tomorrow.”

“Consider this metaphor for a moment. I watched as an athlete held on to a heavy-loaded barbell today. As the scenario would go, if she could string together nine final reps without pause, she’d have a chance to win. She could have dropped it for the 15-20 seconds of pain relief before picking it up to complete the task and fared well. But instead, she held on to her immediate source of pain until the finish. And the athlete prevailed because of the ability to just do one more, and one more, and one more - until the job was done. In a moment of pain, the athlete reasoned that the moments after would be more fulfilling than the current was painful. Imagine if we all had the ability to discern the benefits of pain, commitment, and reward during these most excruciating moments in life. Now, stop imagining. Because we do possess this ability.”

“There is something powerful to be said about not being able handle your circumstances. It’s often our ‘cannot quit’ ego that holds us there. One of my personal heroes once told me that things in his life didn’t begin to drastically change until he decided, in his mind, that his current state was unbearable. Sometimes - just sometimes - retreating from the fray is not a weak action. Admitting defeat isn’t always an action born of a weak emotion. It simply means that you’re spent and that you can acknowledge it. It’s an issue of time and tolerance. There is something powerful about admitting that you can no longer do the time. Intolerance of circumstances often leads to bold recourse. Acting in intolerance, free of ego, can have a greater result than simply fighting to maintain tolerance. The goal was never to be the strongest-willed; the goal is to live the most purposeful life.”

“People will always tell you what you’re capable of; They will call it realism. Maybe you shouldn’t try that. Or maybe attempting that isn’t the best use of your time. These are the things that you’ll hear. Usually, this chorus is loudest when you’re closest to the finish. Sometimes, you’ll want to explain to them that they don’t know what it took to get even this far. This is when it’s best to look back and remember all of the improbable milestones and accomplishments that would not have been - had realism remained the core of your doctrine. Faith in yourself and faith in more than; It is often the difference between yielding to realism and achieving the real vision.”

“The thing about fear is that it can be a friend as much as it can be an enemy. Fear is a reminder that nothing is to be taken for granted in life. And something had better get done to set that fear aside. In this way, fear can be the greatest of catalysts. There’s literally nothing like that sort of anxiety. In a way, it rewires your mind to compensate loss by gaining an advantage - whether it’s a groundbreaking idea, a flash of brilliance, or the clarity to move with certainty. The greatest positives are often the results of great bouts of fear. No other emotion will drive you more to answer the question faster - where are you, victory?”

“You have to know that your fortune isn’t your own doing. Four years ago, my job was lost after 15 years. My company merged with another and they made their cuts. So be it. Three months later, I was on board at a better job in the Carolinas, with more money - on a better career path. Nine months later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I thought that I was going to die; I didn’t tell you for a full year. After fighting it for two years, I was told that I was cancer-free. Soon after, I lost that new great job. That was two lay-off’s in three years. That was October of 2011. By January of 2012, I accepted my best job offer yet, just three months later - with my former company’s chief competitor. I’m still 100% cancer-free after three biopsies. And here I am, better than I was when all was well. You have glory in your veins, son. As long as you remember that what you’ve done has never been by your own power, but His. Humility, Son. Humility.”

“Life can spiral up just as fast as it can spiral down. We marvel at the lives of people who seem to have fortune, luck, and blessings that spiral their lives into orbit. We watch, as if its entertaining, when people’s lives spiral downwards. We all know that either spirals can happen without much direct cause; it can be a lottery ticket (up) or the sudden loss of a relative (down). The marvel should go to two people, the one who lives a grand life as if it can end tomorrow. And the one who has the faith, hope, and wherewithal to slow the downward spiral enough to face a winning direction.”