Man: Trust Thyself

“One would incline at sight to back him against the world,” said one of William the Conqueror, “His very physique was eloquent. Men yielded their wills to his at sight.”

No other knight under heaven, his enemies confessed, was William’s peer. “No other man could bend William’s bow. His mace crashed through a ring of English warriors to the foot of the standard. He rose to his greatest heights in moments when other men despaired. No other man who ever sat upon the throne of England was this man’s match.”

The very spirit of the sea-robbers from whom he sprang seemed embodied in his gigantic form, his enormous strength, his savage countenance, his desperate bravery.

Despite enduring the harshest of circumstances, some men emerge stronger and more resilient than others. Their ability to transform adversity into opportunity, despair into hope, and pain into purpose is what sets them apart. Instead of succumbing to the negativity of their circumstances, they use them as stepping stones to rise above their limitations and inspire others in the process.

The greatest men in the history are not those who’ve lived trouble-free lives, but rather those who’ve faced the darkest of days and emerged victorious, inspiring us to embrace our own struggles, learn from them, and grow stronger. They remind us that within each setback lies the opportunity for a remarkable comeback.

“It is the man who believes he is equal to the emergency,” says Swett Marden, “and can do what he attempts, who wins the day. The world takes each of us at our own valuation, It believes in the man who believes in himself, and has little use for the timid man who is never sure of himself, who cannot rely upon his own judgment, who craves advice from others, and is afraid to go ahead on his own account.”

The life of a single courageous man is like a track of light, his thoughts, his spirit, and his courage continues to inspire others long after he is gone. It is the strong and courageous man who leads the way. The weak and timid leave no trace behind them.

Three things are necessary, said Charles Sumner: “Number one: Backbone. Number two: Backbone. Number three: Backbone.”

When Caesar was at sea, and a storm began to rage threatening to capsize the boat, the soldiers as well as the captain aboard the ship became gripped with fear. Caesar looked at the storm, looked at the waves, and looked at the men: “What art thou afraid of?!” He cried to them, “Thy vessel carries Caesar!”

When landing at the beach of Britannia, he missed his step and stumbled over himself almost landing on his face, but caught himself and grasped a handful of sand as he was rising and held it to the sky as a sign of triumph, hiding forever from his superstitious followers the ill omen of his threatened fall.

The courage of the brave man is contagious. His stronger nature awes weaker natures into silence and inspires them with his own sense of purpose.

Self-belief forms the very fabric of success. The individual who carries himself with the unshakeable conviction that he is equal to the task, that he can conquer any endeavor, naturally becomes a beacon of hope and confidence, drawing others towards him.

When a man exudes confidence, when he deeply believes in himself, the world, in turn, believes in him as well. It is this profound self-belief that serves as the cornerstone upon which trust, respect, and opportunities are made.

Conversely, the world is indifferent to the coward, to the man who perpetually doubts his own worth and second-guesses his decisions. Such a man, crippled by uncertainty, becomes a passive observer and perpetual critic of others rather than an active participant in the direction of his own life.

The world, in its relentless march forward, recognizes and values resoluteness of purpose. It rewards the individual who can make decisions with conviction and ultimately fulfills them.

It has little patience for those who constantly seek validation before they act, who lack the courage to trust their own judgment. It is the bold adventurer, the one who fearlessly treads ahead in uncharted paths, who captures our attention. His boldness becomes an inspiration, reminding us of the extraordinary potential residing within each of us.

It is only the courageous that are useful in society, a society without leaders, strong men, is doomed, because courage is victory, timidity is defeat. There is nothing respectable, lovable or attractive in timidity.

“God will not have his work made manifest by cowards,” said Emerson.

Any man worth his salt must be courageous, for if he is anything less than that he is not worthy of being called a man. This is the ideal.

For these stories and more, check out my book on Amazon — Trials And Triumphs of Hyperachievers