Today I am thinking of all the reasons why I didn’t make it to the top of Adams; I should have done more running to get in shape, I should have lost more weight, I should have taken a lighter sleeping bag, I should have just tried harder and not been so quick to quit, I should have climbed earlier in the summer.

There is a place for honest self-evaluation in order to improve so as to accomplish goals previously failed because of personal growth. And then there are those goals, quite often they are BHAG’s, that I should just move on from. This climb was my third attempt in five years to make it to the top so it wasn’t a quick decision looking for the easy way. Each attempt was less successful than the previous one so I obviously wasn’t getting closer to my goal. Because of the recent 4,000 mile bicycle trip I was sure that I was in the physical shape to make it. The altitude was a major factor more than my being physically in shape. How do I manage a failed goal so as not to get discouraged?

1. I find as many things to be thankful for as I can. This event had lots of very positive things so being positive and grateful was easy.

2. Most of the time failure to accomplish a goal is because of things I can’t control. My Parkinson’s and a decreased ability to manage higher altitudes were the major factors in my failure. A growing list of limitations in my life because of age are a given. I control as much as I can, but there is much that I can’t. I don’t let those things discourage me. That is life, adjust, rejoice, and make some new goals.

3. I don’t let myself envy or be jealous of other people’s successes. Rejoicing with others for their accomplishments is a key part of humility.

4. I set new goals that are similar but achievable. I had already set a goal to run a half marathon on Thanksgiving day, but I am now going to work extra hard to accomplish it. I want to use failure to motivate me not discourage me. There is the risk that I won’t be able to run a half marathon, then I will make a goal to run a 10K.

5. A key to continuing to set hard and challenging goals is to work at developing self-compassion when I fail. There is a difference between excuse-making and justification that encourages poor effort and discipline from self-compassion. I want to continue to dream big, aspire to greatness, and bear much fruit for God, but in the process I want to have fun and enjoy life.