The average person would rather be comfortable than be challenged. They have big dreams and big wishes, but are reluctant to sacrifice their comfort in order to make those dreams come true.

They might put in a little effort here and there, but when they’re faced with an obstacle, a setback, or a challenging situation, they pull back instead of push forward. Consequently, their dreams remain dreams, and their reality remains unchanged.

Resilience is required for success

Resilience is an essential quality to succeeding in any industry or endeavor. For every goal that you have, there are likely thousands of other people who have that same goal. Do you want your music to be played on the radio? Great. Thousands of other artists are also trying to get their music played on the radio as well. Is your goal to become a professional speaker? Great. Thousands of others are also trying to succeed as professional speakers. Is your goal to become a professional athlete? Fantastic. So are thousands of other people. The point is that no matter what you do, you will have competition. Often it is those who are the most resilient who surpass their competition and achieve their goals.

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

Don’t let challenges stop you from moving forward

So what is resilience? Resilience is your ability to keep moving forward in spite of challenges, rejection, setbacks, obstacles, and disappointments. Resilience is your ability to maintain a positive attitude and remain optimistic when you have every reason not to be. Resilience means you don’t give up on your goals when they become difficult to achieve (and the bigger the goal, the greater the difficulty). Successful people are resilient. The average person is not.

The way to become more resilient is to have strong internal motivators. Motivators are reasons why you want to accomplish what you have set out to accomplish. Most people who say they want something –a new house, a luxury car, or a promotion, for example – are not clear on why they want it. Because they’re not clear, and because worthwhile goals are seldom achieved easily, they are unable to convince themselves why they should persist when the journey becomes difficult.

“Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn

Take control of the thoughts in your mind

Successful people understand the power of the mind. They know that when we are faced with a challenge, our mind demands an explanation. The human mind is hardwired to protect the body from harm and discomfort. This is why we instinctively pull our arm back when we touch a hot stove or cover our face when someone unexpectedly throws a ball at us. Our instincts tell us to protect ourselves.

Unfortunately those instincts can work against us when we are facing challenges. Challenges make us uncomfortable, which triggers our mind’s desire to avoid that discomfort. Unless we have a clear explanation for our discomfort (a motivator or a reason why), our mind will try to convince us to quit so that we can go back to being comfortable.

Comfort is the enemy of success

Whether your goal is to buy a house, become a professional athlete, earn a promotion, start a business, become financially free, raise a family, or perhaps finish a university degree, you will undoubtedly experience setbacks, roadblocks, detours, and obstacles along the way. You must be prepared for the challenges that will come your way.

No one becomes successful because they find an easy path. They become successful because they decide what they want, they go after it, and when obstacles arise they don’t quit or change directions. They find a way to overcome those obstacles and keep going. In order to master your craft and become one of the best in your field, you must be prepared to endure challenges. You must be resilient.

How has being resilient helped you succeed?