(Thanks to Futurilla for the photo.)

Peter Bregman, on his blog at Harvard Publishing, wrote an interesting article entitled "Why You Need to Fail".  I encourage you to read it. He quotes Dr. Carol Dweck, professor at Stanford University, on her research into why people give up VS why some folks press on and overcome.

"If you believe that your talents are inborn or fixed, then you will try to avoid failure at all costs because failure is proof of your limitation. People with a fixed mindset like to solve the same problems over and over again. It reinforces their sense of competence."

In 1933, during his inaugural address, Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

He went on to say, "Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men."

Believe me, she can teach us a lot....She is a destitute girl from the village of Don Bosco near Barahonna in the Dominican Republic. She doesn't have many things but she does have joy. Go ahead and stare at her long and hard but have the guts to ask yourself why she has joy. We tend to think that we would be happy if things were just a little bit better. I remember when I was "15 and 1/2" and I could hardly wait until I had my license. In the midst of our jobs we often think, "Everything would be just great and I would feel joy and fulfillment when _____ happens."