The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-12-10
THE DEPRESSING IN
FLUENCE OF FAILURE
1t Is a Rare Character That
Wins Out
One of the Most Dangerous Things fol
Those in the Clutches Of DisCour-
agement is the Paralysis Of
Ambition by Failure
Reformotory Press

Many people are so constituted
that almost their entire effectiveness
and efficiency depend upon their
prosperity. They can do tremen-
dous amount of work under the stim-
illus of success aud promise. If they
feel that they are getting on, advan-
cling, they are courageous, resource
full, inventive, original; but just as
soon as they feel that they are going
backwards, even it through no fault
of their own, they become depressed,
lose heart; theil courage and enthusi-
asm evaporate, when failure stares
them in the face. hope dies out and
everything drops; the wind seems to
90 completely out Of their sails, and
they wilt and flap.
One of the most dangerous things
for those who are in the clutches OF
encouragement is the paralysis of
effort often produced by failure.
1t is easy to work when we see
splendid prospects ahead. When we
see that our blows are telling, we
can continue to swing the hammer.
Few people are so constituted that
they can do their best work in an
apparently hopeless cause. But it is
hard to work with enthusiasm and
courage when everything seems to
be going against us, when we can
see no light anead, no encourage
ment. The temptation in those try
ing periods of discouragement is al
ways to give up trying, and to think
that perhaps we have made a mis-
take in our ambition, and that it
might be better to try something
else.
There are, however, some stalwart
souls who never discover their great
est power until everything has gone
against them, until they have been
stripped of everything that most
people struggle for.
There are numberless people in
the failure ranks today, who, if they
could only retain the courage they
lost when reverses came, would soon
get on their feet again. But they
can not work in discouraging at
mosphere, they can not struggle
without hope, without seeing some
thing ahead.
it is a great thing to cultivate
optimism, spirit Of hopefulness, no
matter how black or threatening the
outlook. When a man has lost hope,
there is little else left for him. But
if he still keeps a close grip upon
himself, if he keeps his hopes bright
no matter if everything else is swept
away from him, he has fair chance
of recovering.
1t is easy for those who are max
ing money, who are successful, to
give advice to those who are down.
1t is easy for them to tell what they
would do if they were to exchange
places with those who seem unable
to get start in the world. But
they do not take into consideration
the difference between the feeling
engendered by success and that pro-
duced by failure, the difference be-
tween the stimulus of their success
full environment. and the depressing
atmosphere of failure.
Success is itself powerful tonic.
Ii is easy to persist, to press on, when
we feel it's thrill, when everything
seems to come our way.
1t is comparatively easy to be
cheerful. hopeful and brave. to forge
ahead. to work with vim, buoyancy
and abounding enthusiasm, when
we are successful, when everything
favors us.
Success buoys up the mind and
increases enthusiasm wonderfully.
The consciousness of progress, OF
getting on in the world stimulates
the whole nature. turns drudgery
into delight. Hope is a powerful
producer, because the faculties give
out their best under the greatest in
ducement.
But when we are in the atmos-
phere of discouragement and failure
when our environment is sitting to
growth, is poverty, stricken, perme-
ated with the very suggestion OF
failure and of want. when the way
is so dark that we can not see, when
hope is shut out from view. then il
takes a man of sterling qualities to
persist, to keep up heart and couage