Kyle Barker
Professor Kerr
EN 101-5
2 October 2010
Choosing Success over Failure
Everyday in life many different options are presented to us, and we are given the opportunity to make choices on our personal desires and preferences. There see many times in which others may influence our decisions but overall it is our responsibility to make the choice that is compatible with us, the "right" choice. But who is to say that the choices we make see always correct? Everybody’s perception of right and wrong is different and in making these choices everybody has to evaluate how these choices are going to affect their lives. Every choice makes a difference in our behavior and emotions, our lifestyle, and also provides a learning experience. Everybody has there own beliefs and they use those beliefs to help them to make choices which in the end will some how help or hurt them. The choices we make and choose to follow will sometimes lead us to success and in more unfortunate cases, lead us to failure.
One noticeable difference is the emotions imitating the result of success or failure. Success brings forth emotions such as happiness, optimism, and satisfaction. If you strongly believe in your mind and heart that you can achieve your goals in life your emotions will intensify. The intense belief and emotions will push you towards the direction of success. For example if you are in the last 30 seconds of a championship basketball game and your team is down by two points and you are confident you will sink the final jump shot to win the game then do. This moment of success is glorified with a sense of achievement and fulfillment. The key we are searching for in life is happiness. The reason we chase success is because it brings us this feeling of happiness we are searching for (“Redefining Failures-“). On the other hand there are the emotions portrayed from failure. A person who often fails is bound to feel sad, angry, and even afraid. When someone fails they feel as if they have just been brought down. As if you would feel if you found out you failed a math test you just took last week. Failure to complete or fulfill their task can sometimes make a person feel depressed and down. This will only result in more failures.
Comparing both success and failure another difference is noticed. The lifestyle one another lives. A person who succeeds is more likely to have a positive attitude and outlook on situations. The more you experience success, the more you will be driven to succeed. Often most people who aim to be successful in one field many times are successful in others as well (“The Feeling of Success”). Although the successful guy will have times of failure as well the difference is he will get back up and try again until he achieves success. For example Thomas Edison who failed thousands of times trying new inventions (“How to be Successful”). While the person who fails is afraid to try again fearing they will repeatedly fail. The failure lets fear control their actions and mindset which will destroy them. If you were to approach a girl at the mall and ask for her number and were to fail and never try again you would be letting the fear of failing hold you back. Then it is more than likely that you never get a number unless tried again.
Yet another difference between success and failure is the knowledge and experience. A successful person will gain knowledge from their experience even if the first few times may lead to failure. A great example of a person like this would be Henry Ford. “While Ford is today known for his innovative assembly line and American-made cars, he wasn't an instant success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke five time before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company” (50 Famously Successful”). Someone who fails at first but try’s again will always gain more knowledge than someone who fails and gives up. When you give up you learn nothing and never will if not attempted again. Without failure there would be no success. If Rosa Parks were to not stand up for her self and sit on the front of the bus that day because she was afraid to fail we would possibly still be having the same problems today.
Here are the three main differences between success and failure. As we can see it is clearly a better choice to pick success over failure. Based on the fact that success brings happiness, better over all goals and achievements, and experience and knowledge. Therefore it is important to consider your future and choose the road of success to live a happy life.
Citations
50 Famously Successful: http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/02/16/50-famously-successful-people-who-failed-at-first/
How to be Successful: http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/how-to-be-successful-failure-vs-success-145615.html
Redefining Failures: http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/how-to-be-successful-failure-vs-success-145615.html
The Feeling of Success: http://onlyonelifetolive.blogspot.com/2007/07/feeling-of-success.html
