BY: G M MIR
NADIM
To hope that things will turn out as well as
possible, all we can do is Hope For The Best. To hope
that something will be successful or happen in the way
you want, even if it seems unlikely.
This can be an expression of hope or insight after
something has gone awry or circumstances seem
bleak.
To have hope that a positive occurrence will
happen, while simultaneously readying for the
negative outcome.
“Hope for the best and be prepared for the worst”
is a quote by Maya Angelou.
Lee Child said, “Hope for the best, plan for the
worst”.
Zig Ziglar said, “Expect the best prepare for the
worst”.
Why is it good to be prepared for the worst
because, by preparing for the worst, you can reach
your goals much more smoothly and you can put more
of your energy in having positive attitude knowing that
you have covered any eventualities and lessening the
negative chatter in your head.
Jenny Marchal has said, “To reach your goals you
need determination, a positive attitude and an
absolute belief that you can achieve what you want.
However, another important factor is to prepare for
the bumps in the road, obstacles and interruptions that
could potentially crop up on your quest for
achievement”.
This may seem like a pessimistic mind set-after all,
aren’t meant to have an unwavering belief that we can
attain what we want no matter what? Well actually it is
an important element in achieving success. We will
undoubtedly come across challenges enough to make
us wonder if we are able to achieve our goal at all. But
with a plan in place, these challenges can be fought
and overcome much more easily making that road to
success a much less bumpy one. Preparing for the
worst can give us a sense of security and lessens the
fears and anxieties that can naturally surface on the
journey.
Now the question of accomplishing 80% positive
energy and 20% worry, let us face it, even the most
ambitious of us still get niggling doubts of worry. When
it comes to achieving our goals, fear manifested as
worry is the number one blocker to many people even
contemplating going after their dreams. When we
enter the journey, we feel vulnerable to failure and
much of the time we are spending most of our
precious energy on worrying.
Now there are certain misconceptions around
preparing for the worst. By their very nature, goals
aren’t always easy and straight forward to achieve. This
is so strong that many don’t even try or just believe
that goals are attainable. Many also believe that
preparing for the worst is some sort of excuse lurking
in the back of the mind telling you it can’t really
happen. But actually it is the opposite of that- it is a
smart move.
Our happiness and emotional well-being is
sometimes overlooked when we try to reach our goals.
We focus on the end result adding to our happiness
but the journey along the way shouldn’t compromise
this. Preparing for eventualities can be thought of as a
safety net for the emotional well-being. When we
suffer setbacks and failures, we are understandably
brought down and it is these instances that can stop us
from carrying on altogether. When we prepare for the
worst we are actually clearing our worries and calming
our emotions, which, in the long run, will be greatly
beneficial to accomplishing our goals.
Now how can we effectively prepare for the worst
to reach our goals. It is all about planning ahead.
Sometimes it can be hard to evaluate all eventualities
but if you get the basics down, you are half way there.
With any situation in life, where we put ourselves out
there, there is a chance we could fall. It is the
excitement of life but also creates fear in most of us.
Whatever you dream or goal is, make time to sit
and think about possible scenario. Money, is a big
factor when it comes to whether or not we even start
going for our dreams. The worry of money, or lack of, is
a big one. Say you have decided to give up your boring
desk job to chase after your dream career. This could
pose a big risk around money and even threatens to
run out if it takes longer than expected. So put aside
money anyway you can and ask yourself questions like
whether you would need to move to a cheaper place?
If so, where could you potentially move to? Are there
people you could move in with if you needed to? Could
you get a loan from the bank? If so, look into different
types of loans to see if any would suit you.
If you couldn’t reach your goal, what would you
want to do instead? What alternatives are there that
would equally make you happy? If you wanted to
become a Writer, could you go into teaching instead?
Or maybe even go back to studying. Perhaps start your
own business? Having options helps calm your mind
and allow you to not fear difficult situations. It also
gives you hope that if you don’t end up achieving your
goal, other options are equally as good.
So, remember, preparing for the worst will actually
allow you to achieve your goals much more easily and
eliminate bumps that, if unprepared for, could cause
you to give up altogether.
I, shall leave you with a great quote by the late
American Author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar,
“Expect the best: Prepare for the worst, Capitalize on
what comes”. In other words, don’t fear the obstacles-
plan for them and make use of them when they come.
That way, you will gain a sense of achievement either
way.
The good news is, YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL
AND BECOME WHAT YOU ASPIRE TO BE!