As we grow
in life, there are some truths that we should learn and accept. One such truth is that you will, from time to
time, face disappointments. Sadly, this
is one of the truths so many people just cannot seem to grab hold of. Their lives are unhappy and often bitter
because each time they are disappointed they act like it is the first. What makes this even harder is that you will
find another truth at work here. The
more you allow disappointments to upset you the more disappointments you will
face.
Scouting teaches that you may
not always win, however, you never give up. Disappointment is only powerful
when it causes you to quit. There is much competition in Scouting. Scouts
compete in games and many other challenges. They learn several important
lessons from this. 1) You cannot always win, but you can always do your best.
2) You celebrate with those who do win and encourage those who do not. 3) You
keep doing your best till you do win. You will never know what you can do until
you do it.
No one likes to be
disappointed. No one likes to lose or to
have things they treasure, be that material things or even people, taken from
them. So how do we face the reality of
disappointment and not allow it to overtake us?
I have three things we can do that will reduce the feeling of disappointment and loss and replace
it with strength and joy. These three
are all wrapped up in the same word, Gratitude.
“Don't cry because it's over.
Smile because it happened.”
– Dr. Seuss
(1904-1991)
Author
1)
Be grateful for what you had
It is one thing to love and
cherish the thing and people you have in your life. It is another to be grateful for them. Gratitude appreciates all that we have and
does not claim it as our own. Scouts
must learn that all things in life are only on loan to us and some of those
things are true gifts. These gifts make
us happy and fill us with a sense of thankfulness that we have been blessed at this time.
Once they are gone, we can look back with happiness and gratitude that
we were, even for a short time, allowed to be blessed in such a wonderful way.
2)
Be grateful for what you have
People who do not understand the
principle of a grateful heart will be filled with fear. When some things or even some people are
placed into our lives, rather than enjoying them we fear they will go away or
be taken away. That fear causes tension
and hurt and what should be a wonderful experience is taken from us. This is what I meant when I said that people
who allow disappointment in their life
will only experience more disappointment. If you cannot appreciate the moment
you will always be looking for something else.
3)
Be grateful for what is to come
Once a person has been able to
develop a grateful heart for what they have had and what they have now, they will
be grateful knowing that more is to come.
Experience teaches us so very much.
The one who believes that everything they love may be taken away, will,
in fact, lose what they have. Likewise, the person who is grateful for what
they have while they have it will gain more.
It is that old self-fulfilling prophecy.
What you believe will come about.
Scouts come to understand that
life has many great and wondrous things in store for them. Each day offers something
better than the day before. They are grateful for the opportunity to experience
all that God has prepared for them and they face the future with excitement.
You
matter! You matter to the world and to
yourself. Remember to be your best, love
God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
Scouting Out of Uniform
is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to
personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The
Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the
Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting
for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal
Development Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or
to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or
group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. © 2018 John Patrick Hickey
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