Talent, Tenacious, Thorough, Triumph, Truth 

Have you ever had the experience where you just don’t feel like walking and then when you force yourself to begin, you have one of your best sessions of recent note? Or perhaps, you are in the midst of a Zumba class and you decide you are too tired, too sore, or you create some other excuse, and all of a sudden, the dance is over. There is a Buddhist phrase that reads, “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth – not starting and not going all the way.”

I like this phrase a great deal. It reminds me that I have to get up from the couch, out the door and go the distance. In the space between the beginning and conclusion lies many opportunities for growth- opportunities I would miss if I didn’t start or go the distance. I can triumph if I tenaciously tackle the challenge and do not allow myself to make excuses. But I understand that hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard.

Think about the path you are taking on the road to truth. I understand that we often face significant challenges along the way – challenges that would make it easy to not start or to give up without completing our journey. Yet, in order to become all we can be, we must be willing to sacrifice time and effort to overcome these challenges. Remember, you can’t become a butterfly unless you give up being a caterpillar!

Missed the beginning of our journey through the alphabet? Check out the rest of Getting Back to Basics.

Members, are you following along? If you want to create your own words to enrich your positive self-talk, download Real People … An Alphabet Adventure from the Chapter Contests and Activities in the Members Area of our website.