I have a game on my computer that is a form of solitaire called Free Cell. You can play the same game over and over again if you don’t get it right… choosing to have the hand re-dealt until you figure it out. I sometimes play the game as a form of relaxation, but in doing so, am aware of how each incorrect step that defeats me leads to greater awareness the next time around. I make different mistakes each round until finally I see the pattern that wasn’t clear previously. Then I am able to “win” the game. And that always reminds me of what we do in life.

How many of us can point to repetitious patterns that emerge over and over again, giving us the opportunity to take what we’ve learned and apply it when a similar situation arises? To me, it shows the incredible patience of life outworking. The seed is planted at birth, and we begin to grow into the role we have been given. We take twists and turns, congratulating ourselves for our successes and bemoaning our failures. But, in actuality, we are playing the hand we’ve been dealt given our perception in the moment. And when we don’t see the snares ahead, and make moves that later are regretful, we will have something similar come into our lives at another point to give us the opportunity to deal with it differently… to replay with greater awareness. It dawns on me that we live as long as we do so that we can figure out the puzzle that we are… to put the cards down in winning combinations, and to recognize the benefit of the errors along the way.

It has been said that those who have the greatest success have also experienced the most failure. We tend not to look at failure as a stepping stone to achievement. Yet, when we were small and started to walk, if we gave up after the first few falls, we’d all be sitting on the floor, crawling at best. That’s not how we’re designed. The brain takes in the stimulus, processes it, and if we are willing… flags the “failure” next time, giving us an opportunity to choose differently. And after the trial and error process (no matter how long), we can experience the fullness of victory hard won. To make a “right” choice in the beginning doesn’t lend itself to the same level of depth of character that we achieve through the longer process. When you see someone who has achieved something without much effort, there is often a shallow perspective and sense of entitlement or of good fortune. When someone has found their place through repeated effort, it shows. There is humility and understanding about the process of life.

So, as we get the opportunity to play the game again and again, new insights or awareness emerge if we are open to being consciously aware. Rather than seeing ourselves as wrong, we see how our perception is growing and bringing us into alignment with the greater possibility of our lives. Again and again we repeat the process… until we get it “right”.

Food for Thought

Reflect on success and failure in your own life.