IT'S NOT A SETBACK ... IT'S A STEP BACK.

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 REFLECTION

Today was one of those mornings where even optimism feels like extra work. I know. Too many things happened yesterday that should not have happened; last night’s sleep never quite developed into a pattern recognizable as such, and this morning my mind is somewhat befuddled with all there is to be done, and not managing to find the desire to make the effort. 

Some people insist on saying that on a “cosmic scale”, these problems are but a grain of sand on a mile-long beach. Maybe so. But, on OUR personal scale, this registers as a major boulder sitting on our shoulders and standing in the way of accomplishing anything at all. 

Frustration is a very human characteristic and, when unchecked, it can wreak havoc with our best intentions. More so when it is fueled by the actions (or inactions) of others, creating situations that get out of hand, easily becoming a spiraling, free-for-all fall. 

It is at this time that we must stop. Yes, stop and review the mental transcript of what has already taken place, analyzing it as coldly as possible. The expression “cool as a cucumber” may tell it. Not totally numb, just calm enough to think. 

Very simply put, we are now taking stock of what is going on. How this can be corrected, who can correct it, and when this can be done. If these corrective steps are not possible in the immediate future, then we will look hard at how this situation can be stopped, even if it means scraping whatever has been done. Then salvage what can be reused and start again. 

Is this a “setback”? Many folks call it so. After all, what they will see is a failed attempt that had to be thrown away, much like you throw away the burnt remains of a badly cooked meal.

The phrase “setback” has an inherent bad connotation. Our failure. Whatever was done misfired. Not a very nice assessment or feeling to have. 

If one were to stop and give up every single time that life hands us a setback, then no one would do much. Not many accomplishments would have come to life. Each success took many attempts -following many failures- to become a reality.

This is when a positive mind will take a calm, controlled look at the overall picture and determine that it is not really a setback. 

It is, instead, an opportunity to take a “step back” and grasp an advantage of a failed situation, turning it around and wrestling a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Is it an easy thing to do? No. It is not.

Nothing that has been accomplished has had an “easy” path from beginning to end.

There is a common thread in projects: most will produce failures along the way. There is also a common thread in success: every failure generates a step back, an analysis, and the development of a new path, a new direction to reach the desired goal.

Don’t give up at the first hint of failure.

It is not a setback.

It is an opportunity to step back. To look, determine, realign, and go forward.

A setback is what it looks like from the outside.

A step back is what it becomes when you take control of the inside.





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