In the team huddle, before we set foot on the soccer field, my coach would always say the same line. “Don’t let failure discourage us, nor let success blind us.” While I thought this phrase only applied to soccer, I have also seen it transform other areas of my life.
As pharmacy and pre-med students, it is so normal for our failures to drown out our success. It’s easy to become stressed, overwhelmed, and feel like no matter how much you do, it is never enough. You walk out of one exam and are already behind on studying for the next. You become overwhelmed by a never-ending cycle. Exhaustion and stress become the norm for your central nervous system.
In these fields, perfection is the standard. You are expected to succeed and be the best. As humans, we are not perfect, so this standard is impossible to meet. You start to tell yourself that you are a “failure,” “not good enough,” or “not cut out to become a pharmacist.” All of which are things I have told myself. Your failures become so constant that your success goes unrecognized.
Why does our success not get as much attention as our failures? What do you tell yourself when you do succeed? You don’t tell yourself that you are proud for the work, time, and energy you put into it. Instead, you tell yourself that you can do better. You got a 75 on an exam that you studied relentlessly for. Instead of celebrating the passing score and the amount of work you put into it, you beat yourself up over not getting a higher score.
Have you ever stopped to think about why this is? Once you check one thing off the list, you recognize all the unchecked bullets below it. There is never time to acknowledge what was done, and instead the focus is on what needs to be done next. As you accomplish more things, your desires grow. The bar is set higher and higher. Have you ever stopped and taken a step back to look at everything you have accomplished?
What you once dreamed of is now your reality. So much so that you do not realize you are living in it. We get so caught up in the present that we forget what our goals used to be. Do you remember when you dreamed of finishing high school and going to college? Then you got to college and dreamed of pursuing a degree in pharmacy. Then you did that and dreamed of gaining another degree. Stop and look at how far you have come. While it may seem like there are so many other things to achieve down the road, be proud of all of the things you have accomplished. Acknowledge the work you have put in to get you to this place. You are living the life you used to pray for.
How lucky are you to be stressed about pharmacy school? How lucky are you for that to be the greatest stress in your life right now. Take into perspective the world around you. Life is hard and what you are doing is hard, but don’t let it take away from all of the positives. Enjoy the stage of your life that you are in now. For someday you are going to look back and wish you could step back into the stage of your life you are in now.
If you are always striving to be better, you will never be enough for yourself. Lean into your accomplishments. Lean into the season of your life you are in right now. Celebrate the success. Romanticize this part of your life. Enjoy it, because one day you will blink and wish you could go back to this time.
Achieving a goal is a process, often a challenging one with setbacks along the way. It is never a straight road to the end goal; instead, it’s usually a bumpy one. A road that is very similar to the ones in St. Louis. The bumpy road starts to smooth out and then boom — you smack into a pothole. And that’s okay, because you keep going. Sometimes you have to stop and make sure your car is okay, but then you get back in and keep going.
Your success is not just a representation of the grade you got, or the games you win. Nor is it about the next degree you are shooting for. Society defines success as your achievements and status, but true success is measured by your goals and your personal values.
The ability to be where you are today comes from the failures and successes of your past. To have a chance to do something that many people can’t do or don’t choose to pursue, that is success. The opportunities we have should be celebrated along with the success. If we are unable to see our accomplishments and be grateful for what we have done, then the never-ending need for more will consume us. Every single person should be proud of what they have accomplished so far.
Now I am not saying to be content with the notches on the belt, but to be proud and stand tall for what you already have and will eventually endure. Get that sweet treat, have that spa night, and reward yourself for what you have done. After that, push yourself towards that next goal. Only you will know what you have endured to get here, but it makes that reward so much sweeter.
Next time you spend the hours studying for that test to only get a barely passing grade, or the amount of stress from practice just to lose the game, realize how lucky you are to be in that position. There are people who failed that test, and there are people who didn’t get a chance to play that sport. Success comes from how you grow and even learn as a person. Having that chance to celebrate is the beauty of life. Pushing yourself to do better next time and to try harder is wonderful. Yet don’t lose sight of what you have done to be put in that position, because maybe then you might lose sight of everything.