Recently, I picked up the following book from the bookstore:
With the subtitle, “How to hit your business, personal and financial targets with confidence and certainty”, I just could not resist.
This book discusses on topics likes having good habits, building on your natural talents, seeing the big picture, eliminating fears and worries, building excellent relationships, taking decisive actions, finding your purpose etc.
So far, the chapter that resonates with me most is the chapter on “Overcoming Setbacks”.
In this chapter, an inspiring story is being recounted on the life of W Mitchell. I am going to reproduce it here verbatim:
Our friend W. Mitchell certainly wasn’t expecting his life to change dramatically as an outgoing young man who loved his job as a grip man on the famous San Francisco cable cars. At age twenty-eight, he was good looking, single and enjoyed daily interaction with the tourists. Mitchell had a couple of specific goals he was working on. One was to obtain his pilots’ license and the other was to buy a beautiful big Honda motorcycle. Finally, he reached the point where these two goals came to fruition in one memorable day.
That day, after completing several flying lessons, was the day he got to fly solo – no instructor, just himself, the plane and a big sky to explore. Mitchell completed his flight, no problem, and was exhilarated after a successful landing. He then enjoyed a leisurely ride on his new shiny motorcycle into town. What a day this was turning out to be!
While going through a green light at an intersection, Mitchell didn’t see the laundry truck that smashed into him, hurling him and his motorcycle underneath the vehicle. In seconds the gas cap came off and the mixture if fuel and heat ignited Mitchell in a ball of fire. He would have died if not for the brave intervention of a car salesman standing at the corner, who ran furiously from the dealership with a fire extinguisher and put out the flames. Mitchell was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. His face had been burned off and his hands were reduced to stumps. A life that had looked so promising had almost been snuffed out in seconds. Several months ensued during which Mitchell experienced a very painful and slow rehabilitation process. Plastic surgery was required to rebuild his face. The burns to his body were so severe that wearing any sort of clothing was torturous to his sensitive skin.
But, despite all of this, Mitchell was alive. There were other challenging situations such as school children taunting him with cried of “Monster! Monster!” as he walked by the school yard. Mitchell had a new life, a very different one from his original dreams and aspirations.
He moved to a little town in Colorado called Crested Butte and by sheer determination managed to get his private pilot’s license restored. So life was getting better. Mitchell went into business with two friends and started Vermont Castings, ironically a wood burning stove company! The business was very successful and Mitchell became chairman of the Board. One cold, crisp winter day, four and a half years after the fiery crash in San Francisco, Mitchell took a few friends for a ride in a plane. However, just after the aircraft lifted into the air, Mitchell knew something was wrong; the plane wasn’t flying properly. It stalled, meaning the wings actually stopped flying, and instead of Mitchell being able to make an emergency landing, the plane just fell back onto the runway. Fearing fire, he urged his passengers to get out quick, which they did, but the pain in Mitchell’s back prevented him from joining them. It turned out he was paralyzed and was told he’d never walk again!
- Source: Canfield, J, Hansen, M. V, Hewitt, L, 2013. The Power of Focus. SA: Vermilion.
Mitchell had to overcome not one but two major tragic accidents. The average person would have given up the fight. Mitchell not only picked himself up, he went on to be elected as mayor, hosted his own radio show and is today an inspiring international speaker. See the rest of Mitchell’s amazing story here:
Mitchell’s inspiring story was not the only one in this chapter. Another outstanding individual, coincidentally also with the family name Mitchell, also had to grapple with intense battles on multiple fronts and finally came up on top and her story is also retold in the chapter. You’ll have to invest in the Power of Focus
We need to accept that life is not always a bed of roses. We will inevitable be faced with challenges somewhere along the way. Some will be more difficult than others.
We need to expect the unexpected and have the mental resolve to face these challenges.
In the past, I tried to shun troubles as much as I could and chased after the elusive trouble-free and peaceful life. The only thing I managed to attract was more stress and internal turmoil. Interestingly, when I began to accept that troubles are realities of our earthly lives and we are to handle them as they come along, I actually became more relaxed.
The bible has this to say about the troubles and storms in our lives:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:22, The Holy Bible
The bible also instruct on the attitude that we should adopt and the ultimate purposes of challenges in our lives:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know hat the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4 The Holy Bible
As we read about the great men and women of history, one common theme stands out: all of these individual needed to face and overcome adversities in their lives.
True champions are individuals who have had to surmount obstacles and get back up when they fell.
As we father our children to become champions in their individual spheres, we need to mentor them to become over-comers of difficulties. As responsible parents, we need to build spirits of positiveness in them and mentor them so that they are not caught by surprises when troubles do strike.
To walk with them and even carry them when they have to journey through the valleys of life. And to educate them of the challenges that the world at large is going through using books, documentaries, the newspapers and life experiences.
The greatest concern of any parent is the physical safety of our children. None of us would want our children to go through what W. Mitchell had to go through.
However, our children today are living in a world that is becoming more difficult all round.
Do not overprotect your children from the hash realities of life. Take the time and effort to build in your children perseverance and resilience. Inculcate in them the wisdom to handle difficulties. They need the mentoring and it is our responsibilities to provide them.