For your consideration:
The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability as opposed to resilience and hard work, we will be brittle in the face of adversity.
– Joshua Waitzkin
I believe we are all endowed by God with unique gifts and abilities. Our professional and personal success is determined by how we embrace the responsibilities that accompany these blessings. From my experience, the belief that one is the “smartest person in the room,” based on a misguided self-assessment or external validation, such as our parents for example, and therefore we don’t need to make an investment of time and effort in our own success, is pure arrogance and a path to failure.
Throughout my life, I’ve made the mistake of thinking I didn’t need to put in the effort, acknowledge my shortcomings, or address my weaknesses by seeking counsel from more knowledgeable and experienced individuals. Shamefully, I follow the same pattern too often. When I’m offered a new opportunity that challenges my present mindset, I throw myself wholeheartedly into gaining the knowledge needed to be successful. Yet, once I feel like I am recognized as an “expert” by my supervisors, coworkers, or, worse yet, my own perception of my abilities, I become arrogant, stop seeking the input of others, and start to think that my way is the only way. For every step forward along my path to personal success, I take two steps back.
Now in my sixties, I have lived enough life to understand that wisdom is a crucial component in facing adversity, in persevering through hard times, and in being resilient. Wisdom that comes through knowledge and experience. A wisdom I’ve found by rediscovering scripture, particularly the books of Psalms and Proverbs. Despite how the world and technology have evolved, the struggles we encounter as humans on our journey to becoming better people remain the same. We simply need to be humble enough to seek guidance beyond ourselves.
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