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Change does not necessarily assure progress, but progress implacably requires change.
-- Henry Steele Commager
 

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Beyond discouragement

It’s natural and understandable to become discouraged. The feeling of discouragement is normal and healthy in response to adverse, disappointing developments.

But as intensely discouraged as you may be, you never have to let it define who you are. You can choose to be a person experiencing discouragement rather than the walking, breathing embodiment of discouragement.

That’s a key distinction. Because it reinforces to you the truth that you have power over your discouragement.

Discouragement can all too often be a part of your experience. Yet it doesn’t ever have to become a part of who you are.

Who you are is someone with values, dreams, skills, opportunities, and resources. At any time, amidst any degree of discouragement, you can make use of all those things to work your way beyond whatever you’re experiencing.

You can feel the pain of discouragement, then take steps to transform that pain into inspiration, determination, and effective action. Though you may at times go through discouragement, you never have to stay there.

— Ralph Marston

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