Developing Character for Success
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us, they help us learn to persevere. And perseverance develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.
Romans 5:3–4 (TLB)
Research shows that to see major changes in your physique and health, you must devote at least five hours a week to intense strength and cardiovascular training, performing at least ninety sets of ten to twelve repetitions for every body part at a rate of perceived exertion of six to eight. Changing your eating habits also requires discipline. Simply put, being fit and healthy is difficult, painful and time-consuming. Nonetheless, this painful, difficult and taxing regimen is the only reliable way to change your body, and it is worthwhile for a high quality of life.
That is how difficult it is to achieve success in any area of life. Failure is simply choosing comfort and ease, the greatest threats to progress we can imagine, and it is a sign of weak character. A weak character will make you a sissy and a failure in life. The scripture above tells us that to build strength of character, the most important quality for achieving success and longevity in life, we must run into problems and trials, because they are good for us. They are the weights we must lift to develop resilience and endurance of character. Lifting weights in the gym is excruciatingly painful, but your muscles cannot grow without it.
Each of us faces different trials and tribulations in life, but if we simply change our mindset about how we deal with them, many things will begin to move in the right direction. Many of us, however, find it difficult to accept the reality of our problems, and then wonder why we find every stage of life difficult.
The other day my trainer showed me a boxing drill I had never done before, and said we would do two sets of ten repetitions. By the fifth repetition I was breathing differently, my heart was pounding abnormally, and every part of my body was in a pain I had never felt before. My mind told me to stop because I could not go on. I signalled to my trainer that I could not continue, and he saw that I was at the end of my rope, but this is what he said to me: "No, the number is ten. Come on, man! Come on, five more!" To be honest, I was about to give up when something happened that I had never experienced before: my mind overcame the pain and fatigue my body was experiencing. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and told myself, "My mind is stronger than my body." Then I finished both sets of ten. I broke through a mental barrier and accomplished something I did not believe I was physically capable of. Doing this three times a week for two months has strengthened my character; now I can handle the pain and the constant shock to my body and excel, because my character has been strengthened. I can deal with it, get through it and succeed.
Our difficulties, hardships and trials are designed to do exactly that in us: to develop resilience, strength and perseverance of character, and you will never develop them otherwise. God knows that hostility breeds fortitude. If you can love someone who despises you, you are greater than one who loves only those who love him; if you can believe in the midst of the impossible, you are greater than one who dabbles only in what is possible. If you endure adversity, you will develop the character you need to navigate life. We are drawn along by our character: the weaker it is, the less likely you are to succeed in life, and the opposite is also true. Learn to embrace adversity and difficult times. Learn to do difficult things. Train, run five kilometres, learn difficult skills. Pray for long periods of time. Do the challenging task, leave the mundane, and success will find you. Those who thrive in adversity will succeed in life. Everything you want to be and to achieve is on the other side of hard.