Today, I hold a certain set of expectations about what will make me feel satisfied, happy, and proud. Looking ahead, the future offers two extremes on a spectrum.
On one end, I stay the course—I work hard, remain disciplined, and strive to meet my expectations. If I succeed, I receive confirmation that my effort, perseverance, and dedication have paid off. This reinforces my confidence, strengthens my sense of accomplishment, and validates my belief in hard work.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I fail—completely. That’s just a fact. But within that failure lies an unexpected gift: the opportunity to let go of rigid expectations and redefine them. This experience humbles me, teaches me resilience, and ultimately allows me to find satisfaction through a different path. Despite the initial disappointment, I can still reach happiness and fulfillment, just in an unexpected way.
Between these two extremes lies a middle path—a mix of both success and failure. Here, I gain some of the rewards of perseverance while also benefiting from the lessons of adaptation.
The key to making the most of whatever life brings is understanding this dynamic and staying open to change. Whether through success, failure, or something in between, there are always gifts to be found—if I’m willing to see and open to accepting them .
Martin Pham Dinh 