There are four ifs in the area of growth and change that make life worthwhile. First, life is worthwhile if you learn. There is nothing worse than being stupid. Learn from your personal experiences. Learn from other people’s experiences.
Second, life is worthwhile if you try. You’ve got to take what you’ve learned and see if you can try your hand at it. Somebody say, “You can’t try, you have to do.” No, you have to try.
I (Jim Rohn) put the bar up two feet and ask the kids, “Who can jump two feet?” “I can,” some say. “I can’t,” some say. “I don’t know,” some say. How are they going to know? They’ve got to try. Just back off and run at it. What if they knock the bar down? Does that mean they can’t jump two feet? No, they have to try it again another way. Maybe they need to start lower and build up to that height. When the record book on you is finished, let it show your wins and your losses. But don’t let the record show that you didn’t try.
Third, life is worthwhile if you stay. You’ve got to learn to stay. You don’t have to stay forever, just until you see it through. A guy builds a foundation. Then he wanders off somewhere and builds another foundation. He’s got these foundations scattered all across the country… no walls, no roofs, just a bunch of foundations. That’s not a good reputation to develop for yourself. Stay until it’s over.
Fourth, life is worthwhile if you care. Caring is a unique human experience that is vital, powerful, all-encompassing, and far-reaching. If you care at all, you’ll get some results. If you care enough, you can get magnificent results.
To lead a life worth living, you’ve got to learn. You’ve got to try. You’ve got to stay. And you’ve got to care. Remember the four ifs, and you’ll be on your way to building a life worth living.
* Source: Leading an Inspired Life by Jim Rohn