Silencing Resilience

There is nothing worse than failing, except for the fact, perhaps,  that you had given your all - effort, force, time, money, and almost everything - but still failed. Good thing there are things such as these: resilience, second chances which really turns into multiple chances, and redeeming. 

A scene in the movie "Rocky Balboa" had Rocky and his son, Robert, confronting about the struggle that they have had in their relationship as father and son. Eventually, Rocky spoke this very moving line: "But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth." 

A scene from Rocky Balboa

There would always be room for improvement, just as there would be enough space for you getting back up and showing that resilience you have in you. Perseverance, determination, aggressiveness, and yes, resilience. These are the virtues that Rocky spoke about. You would know this especially if you have watched the Rocky movie series starting from the first one. He has had losses, but he always got back up and fought his way into the title. That has been his story. Losing and then, winning. That was how winning was done.

Photo by Frantisek Duris from unsplash.com

This is not to criticize that movie (I love that movie, I like Stallone!), but what if it does not need to be "losing and then, winning" and "just winning" instead? Why not give your supreme effort, strength, heat, and everything in your first shot?

Take for example during examinations in schools, we always say this whenever we fail exams: "I will just review more, and study harder for the next examination." Another one goes like this: "I will spend more time studying and not waste my time for the next examinations."

You know that there will be an exam, and you know that you may fail if you will not study and spend more time for learning; yet, you took it for granted because you know there will be more exams to come which may give you chances to redeem yourself.

From my point of view, I see this idea of resilience as an excuse for incompetence and lack of discipline. Instead of doing the wrong things, why don't we do the right things which will eventually lead us to our aim? Being resilient is good because it shows that you can still go back after a beating. You can still take the hit and move forward despite things crashing onto you.

There is way out though. In safety management, there's a saying that goes like this - Accidents are best prevented when? Before they happen. This means that if you have the chance to stop a scenario from happening, then take it and act upon it.

The aftermath of a storm in the Philipines from Rappler.com

If you have a chance to stop failing, act upon it. Think of the things that you must change, improve, or retain. A part of being resilient is being able to adapt and change and grow. That being said, not learning and just letting things go on a repeat is not a display of true resilience.

If you're going to waste your chance to go back up, you are just going to silence your chance. What really matters here is that you give not your almost everything, but your everything, instead. All you got for your goal!

Resilience is good, but not until it becomes a habit, a cycle that will just go on repeat. 

*Photos were grabbed from the Internet and all thanks are for those who own it. For sharing purposes only. Thank you for understanding.

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