Yesterday, I didn’t write. My goal is to write every single day. Even just a few hundred words. The magic is not the inspiration that will see me through to the end of a project. It’s in the daily task of doing what I already know I need to be doing so that I can see the end achieved. And I let myself down. It wasn’t the first–not even close. And it won’t be my last. Rather than kick myself and get upset with myself, as I have so often in the past when I did not reach my own expectations, I need to forget yesterday and press on with today. Get back up and write. Get back up and do whatever it is that is the motivation to keep moving forward. Inspiration may come today. Or it may not. It really doesn’t matter. Once you have a set direction and course, keep going, no matter what. There will be critics–not least of all yourself–and there will be obstacles–not least of all yourself. As has often been attributed to Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” If Mr. Churchill is correct, then today I will keep on going. Courage is not persistence when everything goes well. It’s when it’s all going downhill you begin to question even your purpose and beliefs that courage is most needed. Forget yesterday. Forget any number of things in the past. Look forward. As Peterson has expressed it, aim higher. Even if you miss the mark–societally, personally, etc.–keep a forward-looking posture. There is much more to attain. But you have to go forward.
