Th stars that conflict

Since I’m seeing in the stars that conflicts will need to be addressed in the coming week, I’ve decided to discuss a very apropos and universal topic: setbacks and challenges. All of us contend with both obstacles and defeat at various points in our lives, but where we often differ is how we choose to deal with them, as well as how well-equipped we are to deal with them. I hope I can offer some inspiration today to keep you striving toward your dreams, and prevent you from giving up and feeling defeated by setbacks.

Let’s face it, challenges are a part of life over which we have varying, limited or, in some cases, no control. So, while we can’t avoid them, we can change how we deal with them, starting with how we perceive them. For example, what do you think of the life setbacks experienced by the unnamed individual below?

• He lost his mother at age nine.
• He failed at a business venture at age 23.
• He was also defeated in his state legislature race at age 23.
• He lost his first sweetheart to typhoid fever when he was 26.
• He experienced failure in a second relationship at age 28.
• He ran and was defeated in a U.S. Congressional race at age 34.
• He lost his position for U.S. Vice President at age 47.
• He lost a U.S. Senate race at age 49.
• He was elected U.S. President at the age of 51.

You’re privy here to a small snapshot of this individual’s life, but you can see that he obviously suffered substantial personal and professional challenges. The man was Abraham Lincoln. He certainly succeeded in life, but you can see that he also dealt with his share of challenges.

One way to consider failure or setbacks is to see them as opportunities for learning and growth, or for finding out what works and what doesn’t. Or you can also say that you can’t succeed unless you’ve failed before. Fortunately for us, inventor and businessman Thomas Edison was undaunted by failure as two of his quotes reveal...

“I have gotten lots of results. I know

several thousand things that won’t work.”

“I can never find the things that work best

until I know the things that don’t work.”

So, it’s very important not to be daunted by failure, because it’s a necessary step to success – and sometimes a blessing in disguise.

I wish you a peaceful and calm week.