The wind strengthens the whole tree... hold fast

Dear Why Team members,

One of my favorite books of all time is "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. My mother gave it to me a few years ago and the life story of Louis Zamperini just blew me away, made me think how many amazing stories are out there that we will never hear.  The movie version of the story was released this past year.  The WWII scene of the flying B-24 in combat is alone worth the viewing.  But it is the mantra shared throughout the movie that got my attention for this weeks why team weekly; 

       "If I can take it, I can make it"

We hear about the importance of self-esteem ad nauseam, in fact could we not say that...

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...esteeming oneself might also be in the category of arrogance?  I read once that the greatest concentration of those with the highest self-esteem can be found in prisons.  Hmm, think about it.  No, it's self-efficacy that best supports us - knowing that we have been effective in the midst of life's challenges.  Self-efficacy can develop within us an attitude of "bring it on",  "I can handle whatever life dishes out."  


As I have written in the past, no one asks for a character building experience, but is it not through our adversities that we really come to know what we are made of?  "If you can take it, you can make it".  And this is the point, you can take it, look at you, look what you have already overcome.  You can take it and you can make it.  The thousand miles may, in the moment look impossible, but let not the distance have power over you, yours is to just take one more step.  Those who keep taking one more step in the direction of their dreams most often achieve them.  


If it hasn't happened to you already, keep it up and you will most assuredly look back and marvel at the distance you have come.  Life can be very tough, but we can be tougher.  The wind strengthens the whole tree, down to it's roots.  Embrace your struggles, just as you may hire a personal trainer, choosing the hardship to become better.  Choose all that life has to offer, both the smooth path, but more so the difficult trail.  For it is the trail up the mountain that eventually provides the most spectacular views.  


Make it a great week,


Steve Luckenbach