Mens Sana Foundation

On Success

you ever want to do something with your life only to be dissuaded from doing it by people who said that it’ll never work? I was when I was a younger man. Only to feel remorseful later on for not having at least tried.

But I learned. And I’d like to share that learning with you.

First, as Shakespeare put it: What’s done is done, and cannot be undone. But can often be redone. Don’t ever let any of those regrettable decisions linger on in your life. Learn from them. And then let them go.

Second, don’t discuss what you want to do with your life with anyone. You see, no one is better qualified to judge what you should do in that regard than you. No friend. No so-called expert. No one.

Third, to keep yourself moving forward every time a little doubt begins to nibble away at your gut, whisper to yourself these wonderful lines from John Greenleaf Whittier’s Maud Muller:

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: It might have been.

And finally, know deep within you that you cannot fail. God won’t let you.

As the credo of the Scottish Himalayan Expedition puts it (paraphrased to make it shorter and more personal):

The moment you definitely commit youself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help you that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in your favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man or woman could have dreamed would have come his or her way.

So whatever it is that you want to do with your life, if you’re passionate about it, if you feel that you’re either going to do it or die in the attempt, if there is a fire burning in your belly that will not be quenched until you do it, then just go for it. You won’t regret it. I promise you.

Think about it.