This is a common phrase used in archery teams. In spanish it is “Flecha lanzada, flecha olvidada” which means to recover at a competition, focusing on the next shot and trying to reach the highest score with confidence and precision.
Once the arrow is released, especially if it wasn’t a good throw, they must forget it and keep going.
That’s today’s point; persistence, mindset and attitude.
No matter what happens, we have to continue during this competition, the hardest, the one we call life. It is not as easy to do it, as it is to just say it. There’s this certain moment when you’ve got every detail planned, your strategy, you’ve worked really (REALLY) hard for it, and then, all of a sudden, it happens… that external issue, the one that you cannot control, because it does not depends on you, at all. However, that’s the decisive moment; acting fast, letting go, and focusing straightforward to release the next arrow.
Time is the key point , we must be fast so we won’t lose our vision, or end up all distracted away from our goals, objectives, efforts, etc. That’s the point about the speed, that’s what makes the difference between one person and another, between subject “Y” and “X”. Subject “Y” is the one that loses time complaining about rejection, failure, how the plan didn’t worked, why the project didn’t functioned, what they’re not able to accomplish, the bad score they received, or whatever the scenario is. But, in the other hand, pretending both experienced the same series of events, the difference and what defines subject “X” would be the type of response. It has to be positive, ambitious, and with emotional control. Being persistent, focusing on the present, looking at what’s happening now.
We’ve got to deal with it, that’s life, definitely, it is not always easy. In my experience, it may requires a lot of effort… When you accept it, that’s the moment when you fully understand, realize it and you just start living and start working on your true goals. If you’re not going to make the best of it to grow or learn, or just take something positive from it, then, it is not useful nor helpful to compare ourselves with others. We must accept and embrace how we are all different. Try to overcome the obstacles, visualize them as a challenge, as a bet to be better, and solve them in the most creative way possible.
Turn the page, choose your next arrow, take what’s still useful and do not lose it. Draw a new way, an optimized and different path, and just keep going forward. There will always exist that magic lucky factor, that unexpected moment, that person who came into our lives to support us; like achieving the perfect target shooting, straight on the center with not a single distraction. If this happens, surprise them, let them find you with determination, with every tool or the necessary preparation, and of course, with the best attitude.
We cannot control everything, that’s for sure. Focus on what you do can, if it depends on you, make sure you’ve got it. Do it, laugh at life, smile… always. This journey….life is like an extremely carefully planned trip, and at the same time always improvised. Feel proud of yourself, for all those occasions that you’ve overcome. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, who support you. Stay with the ones you can trust and those who accept your anger or not so pleasant streaks so you can feel it, let it go, and keep growing.
Continue, don’t stop. Take that other arrow, look at your target, go for it… one day at a time…