I learned in bodybuilding that the best way to gain strength was to take my muscles to their absolute limit – to the point of failure – where they were so out of energy that they couldn’t even lift a small amount of weight. Then, after a few day’s rest, they would not only be ready to lift again, but they would also be bigger, stronger and able to lift more than ever before.
Just like in bodybuilding, failure is also a necessary experience for growth in our own lives, for if we’re never tested to our limits, how will we know how strong we really are? How will we ever grow?
We all make mistakes in life, and when we fail, we have two paths we can take: we can bury our head and our hopes and let embarrassment, shame and doubt prevent us from ever reaching our goals, or we can take responsibility for what we’ve done, learn from our choices, make amends and move forward. I’ve learned that the latter course of action lets me take my failures and turn them into great wells of experience, from which I can draw wisdom and perspective as I continue on life’s path. I do not forget the mistakes – we never should – but, I don’t let them keep me from reaching my dreams.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an actor, producer and two-term Governor of California.
