Abraham Lincoln and Not Giving Up on Your Dreams

To watch and listen to the presentation of the article, you may click on this link: Abraham Lincoln and Not Giving Up on Your Dreams Video Presentation 

History can both encourage and motivate. Watching the struggle and the triumph of individuals can both empower and give us hope to pursue our dreams.

Abraham Lincoln is one of those individuals. Below is an article in which I share what I learned about Abraham Lincoln.

His life, struggle, and experience encourage me to not give up on my dreams, despite failures and setbacks.

As you read the below article may you also be encouraged to not give up on your dreams, despite failures and setbacks.

Posted by Second Chance to Live on August 17, 2010

Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. I am happy to see that you decided to stop by to visit with me. Please remember that you are always welcome around my table. Last night I stopped by the martial arts school to see my Sensei – instructor – and to see and say hello to some of the brown and black belts with whom I trained with for 8 years.

I then made the decision to stay for part of the brown and black belt class.

At the beginning of class, Sensei shared something with the students that I want to share with you, my friend. May you be encouraged as you read through this article to not give up on your goals, your process, your dreams or your destiny. May the lesson – below – inspire you to keep getting back up no matter how many failures or setbacks that you may experience during your lifetime.

As Sensei began class he shared a list of setbacks and failures that an individual in history experienced during his lifetime.

• 1832 Lost Job and defeated in the state legislature
• 1833 Failed in business
• 1835 Fiance/sweetheart died
• 1836 Had a nervous breakdown
• 1836 Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
• 1843 Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
• 1848 Lost re-nomination for Congress
• 1849 Rejected for land officer position
• 1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate
• 1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice President
• 1858 Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
• 1860 Elected President (Success)

The above list of setbacks and seeming failures are attributed to one of our greatest Presidents in American history. His name is Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln profoundly impacted his generation and generations to come because he made the decision (s) to not allow failures or setbacks to keep him from pursuing his dreams or his destiny. Because of his decision (s) to keep moving forward, freedom has occurred in the lives of many individuals for many generations.

Sensei went on to encourage the students in the class to not give up on their goals – be it advancing to their next belt rank or in another area in their life– even though they may encounter failures or setbacks in the pursuit of those goals.

Abraham Lincoln’s example and Sensei’s lesson inspires both you and me to stay committed to our goals, vision, mission, dreams and destinies — regardless of any adversity, failure (s) or setback (s) that we may experience during our lifetimes. And as Abraham Lincoln brought a freedom to the lives of many individuals, so too will we bring about a freedom — simply by staying committed to our dreams and our destinies regardless of any adversity, failure (s) or setback (s) — to the lives of many individuals in our generation and in generations to come.

Several Quotes that Inspire

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

“It is not that I am so smart, but that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein

“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” Vince Lombardi

“Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up.” Craig J.Phillips MRC, BA

“I will prepare and someday my chance will come.” Abraham Lincoln

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light to shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same, as we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson