I was reflecting on the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” and I gained a powerful insight about adversity in our lives and why we need it to become who we truly can be.

In the movie, George Bailey discovered what life would be like if he hadn’t been born, and he discovered the incredible value he brought to so many people’s lives.  In the movie the ‘villain’ was Potter, a greedy old man who wanted money and power.  I started wondering how things would have been for George if Potter hadn’t lived.  How often have we heard people say that they wish a certain person who’s been giving them grief never existed?  I’ve certainly felt that way at times.

Well, I suddenly realized that if Potter had not existed, then George Bailey may not have risen to accomplish much of what he did.  He may certainly have had a good life, but he wouldn’t have done many of the things he did without Potter as his foil to push against.  When there was a run on the bank, and on the savings & loans company George ran, Potter tried to take over, and George, with the support of his new bride, gave up his honeymoon money and made a stand for what he believed in.  Without Potter, he would probably have gone on his honeymoon, had a great life, and that would have been that.  With Potter, he made a stand for what he believed to be true.

Thinking about this, I’m realizing that it is our struggles and our ‘foes’ who define more of who we are than our successes and friends.  It is by overcoming our struggles and ‘foes’ (not wallowing in our struggles but overcoming them) that we tap into who we can truly be and achieve our successes. Without the challenges, we would not achieve our greatness.  So, yes, be thankful for your successes and your friends, and also be grateful for your challenges and your ‘foes’.  You may not be who you are without them.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 26th, 2009 at 5:45 pm and is filed under Beliefs, Passion, Success. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.