Pull Yourself Up

At a difficult time in my life when I had no assets, dim prospects, and serious questions about my own potential, I heard someone say this:

"Sometimes you need to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps."

It wasn't the first time that I had heard this well-known idea, but it was the first time that it made me angry. I was angry because I understood what the message really meant and how it applied to my own life and my own failures.

As I regained my composure, I pictured how difficult it would be to do what was being suggested, to physically pull oneself up by the shoes. This image provided a sobering metaphor for the demands of real improvement. 

Change Is Difficult 

In order to climb to a higher level - or as in my case to pull myself out of a big hole - we must expect to work hard. And don't be surprised if we don't make much progress, especially in the beginning.

To move ahead, be prepared to struggle. But realize that struggle also has a bright side. As we toil and overcome challenge after challenge, we become stronger. We become smarter. We become more capable. As time passes, we'll be able to take on bigger and bigger challenges and accomplish impressive results. Keep struggling. Keep working, and progress will come in its own time.

Taking Responsibility 

Change requires personal responsibility. It's not enough to have someone else elevate us to a new level. We might spend some time enjoying our new heights, but eventually, we'll slip back down to where we started.

But when we raise ourselves through our own efforts, the strength and skills and knowledge that we gain stay with us. When we build our own foundation of competence, we needn't to rely on other to elevate us articially. We make our own fortunes. We reap our own destiny.

The Effort

Yes, I was angry that day, but I didn't direct my anger at the speaker who mentioned the idea. I recognized that I was angry at myself for wasting opportunities and for putting myself in a position of weakness. I felt a sudden realization of desperation. But I also saw a path that could lead to bigger and better things. I chose to take that path. I chose to pull myself up even if it meant facing difficult challenges again and again.

From time to time, most of us need a wake-up call. How we respond to that call makes all the difference. We can curse our misfortunes or we can rise to the challenge and do something about them. Doing so won't be easy, but the effort will lead to a better place.

Copyright © 2015 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved