Practice Success

When we look at other people, they often seem better than us. Some are good at studying. Some are good at sports. Some speak very well. Sometimes we admire them. Then we look at ourselves and feel small. We may think, “Why can’t I do that?” “What am I good at?” “Maybe I am just not good enough.”

If we fail many times and keep giving up, we can lose confidence. If we compare ourselves with others and hear criticism, we may begin to think, “I am just a person who cannot do it.” But we do not have to stay like that. We need to practice success.

The Bible says, “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” In 1 Corinthians 9:24, Paul talks about running toward a goal. We should not only watch other people run and admire them. We also need to start running. We do not need to begin with a big goal. We can start with something small. Doing QT, reading the Bible, studying, or exercising can all be small challenges.

Why are games fun? One reason is that we keep getting small achievements. We finish one mission, get points, and move to the next level. Then we want to try the next challenge. Our life also needs this kind of experience. When we reach a small goal, we begin to think, “I can do it.” Then we can make the next goal a little bigger. Small success builds confidence.

Maybe you think, “I am not good at anything.” Another person may be good at studying, sports, music, or speaking. That is what they are good at. You may already have something you are good at, or maybe you have not found it yet. If you have not found it, you can start building it now. Do not only admire other people. Start today.

But there are things that can stop us from trying. The first problem is priority. Friends may call us. We may want to play games or watch videos. But 1 Corinthians 9:25 says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” If we only do important things after finishing all the fun things, it will be difficult to reach our goal. We need to do what is important first.

The second problem is fear of failure and fear of people. When we try something new, we may make mistakes. Someone may laugh at us. Someone may criticize us. But when a runner falls down, the runner does not stay on the ground. The runner gets up and keeps running. If we stop because someone laughed at us, we will never improve. If you make a mistake, try again. Failure does not mean you cannot do it. It means you are still learning.

The third thing is continuing. We do not become good at something after trying only one or two times. We may need to practice for one week, one month, one year, or even longer. Small success needs to be repeated. What we do again and again becomes our strength.

So do not only look at other people and wish you were like them. Have faith and confidence, and start today. Maybe someone else looks far ahead of you now. That is okay. Set a small goal. Try it. If you fall, get up again. Keep going.

If you do nothing today, tomorrow may look almost the same. But if you start today, tomorrow you are already one step ahead. A small challenge can become a small success. Small success can build confidence. Confidence can help you take a bigger challenge.

Success does not suddenly appear one day. It comes closer when we keep running, get up after we fall, and keep building small successes.

So do not stop because you admire someone else. Start today. Have faith. Believe that you can grow.

Maybe today you look at someone and think, “I want to be like that person.” But if you keep challenging yourself and growing, one day someone may look at you and think, “I want to grow like that person too.”