“Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” -Orison Swett Marden
It amazes me that the same types of people exist no matter where you go in life. I agree that there are a lot of good people; those that generally seek to encourage others. However, it is also true that no matter what country you travel to, no matter which job you get hired for, there will always be people who are against you. I don’t mean just against you in the general sense. I mean those who feel the need to put people down who vocalize a dream that they feel passionately for. To them, it’s unthinkable to wish for something that’s seemingly out of their league.
I’ve been getting put down a lot lately about this blog I’m writing. I hear it all the time that my blog won’t make any kind of money or that I can’t give advice or, even better, that I should quit.
Well, as you can see, I haven’t given in. I’m still writing; writing for an audience who wants to hear the advice I wish to impart.
So this time, I want to help you stand up against people who try to bring you down.
1. Maintain a level head
The individual who is calm and cool-headed is the one with the most self-confidence and self-control. Practice this way of interacting with others. People will purposely say things to make you angry, but don’t give them the satisfaction of letting them get under your skin.
2. Keep your eye on the prize
At the end of the day, no matter how many jerks may laugh at your goals, they are still your goals. You won’t stop thinking about them like your adversaries will. And that’s how it should be. Don’t give up on a dream because haters make fun of it. Who are they to you?
3. Search for those who encourage you
It’s as I always say. Do not surround yourself with people that consistently make you feel like crap for being who you are. Instead, find others who have big dreams to and encourage each other to make your dreams part of your reality. Whether it be an online support group or offline relationships, build gratifying connections with others.
4. Be grateful for those who are against you
Without having adversaries to chastise us and challenge us, we would have no reason to attempt any sort of seemingly ridiculous goal. I know it’s sometimes an annoying thing to think about. Thank the ones who ridiculed you? It seems outlandish, but it is a noble thing to do. When striving to reach a goal, there must be resistance (chastisers) that test whether or not we are worthy of achieving that goal.
Do you know of any other ways to stand up for what you want to achieve? Share your ideas if you like.
photo credit: andrewk100
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Way 2 go!
I admire your passion and your consistency to plan writing, no matter what may come.
I myself have planned and read about blogging for months now, but I only posted two articles, so you can give yourself credit for really sticking to it. It’s harder than people may think.
As for the people around you, I agree, it’s hard to get rid of “toxic people” and find people who motivate and encourage you. But attitude may attract the right people, meaning that giving positive thoughts and words, those kind of people will “follow” it.
All the best for your next writings!
Patrick
chukwuma,
we aren’t putting you down or trying to tell you to quit. we are merely suggesting you perhaps introduce some variety in your posts. talk a little more about life as it is for you. a college journey is more than just having lofty ideals, it is also about all the new experiences one has. giv thought to that, we are really just trying to help you out.
Have you read my about page lately? It’s not just about my college life. It’s also about what I LEARN.
Yes, Chukwuma, your blog is about what you learn, but you shouldn’t restrict yourself to telling what you learn. Show your readers what you learn; knowledge is in many ways empirical. Tell us stories. Show us why you are unique. Many of the people that may seem against you are just trying to help you.
Fantastic blog with some really great points. Thanks for posting!
By Rudyard Kipling
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
This is a great poem. I’ve read it before and kept it in the back of my mind. Thanks for posting it.