Have you ever watched a movie where the main character is entering a competition or facing a challenge of some kind and is told something like, “Here’s your shot”? According to the script, this statement sets the stage for the hero or heroine to step up and do something noteworthy that helps to bring the story line to a climax. The viewer knows that something exciting and memorable is going to develop shortly.
Have you ever thought about what you want to achieve and thought that a particular situation, thing or person represented “your” shot and that everything was riding on what you decided to do next? I really enjoy watching films and losing myself in a good story. I’ve even embraced suspending my disbelief so that I could appreciate what was being presented in front of me but I know that despite how entertaining the events are, they are not real.
How does this relate to the idea that you only get one shot to accomplish what you want in life? I don’t believe that we are given one opportunity to be and do things we want and that if we don’t succeed that we are doomed to have to live without them. There will be times that we will make our best effort to accomplish something and it won’t work out the way we had hoped.
Moving on After Disappointment
At that point, we need to reflect on what has happened. Even if you don’t think you have any options, this is not the case. If a particular door has closed to you, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make a new decision and try something else after you have given yourself time to come to terms with what hasn’t worked out the way you were hoping.
Every day gives us a fresh start and more chances to move toward the things that we want to get out of life. You aren’t always going to see steady progress as you work toward your goals, but sometimes the things we think of as blocks or detours can teach us important lessons about ourselves.
Instead of thinking of the opportunities we want to pursue as an all or nothing proposition, you can decide that you will get as many “shots” as you need or want. Instead of getting all tensed up for your big moment, why don’t you relax a bit and enjoy the journey by letting go of keeping score of the number of times you have tried and failed and focus on the times when things worked out instead?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi Nacie,
I’m not getting your posts in my google reader.
I can get to your blog from searching but I get a 404 when I try to go from google reader.