“Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable.” – Theodore Vail
What a profound quote! This is the sort of inspirational quote that makes you think… my absolute favorite kind. When I come face to truth with a quote like this one, I like to just spend a little time alone with it.
When I think back over my life, I can recall certain difficulties. I think of these difficulties as unwanted visitors. They always intrude in the same way. My family, figuratively, is sitting comfortably in around the dining room, having a wonderful meal – talking about University of Kentucky Basketball, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, the Denver Broncos. Then trouble arrives banging on the door, upsetting everyone and causing chaos. The most unwelcome guest of all time.
However, as I think back on these difficulties…. none of them won. We always survived. What’s more, we walked away stronger and wiser.
As Theodore Vail points out, it’s the imaginary visitors at the door that are our undoing. The problems we only “imagine” are at the door – problems that, truth be told, aren’t even on our property. These are the “What if…” variety of problems – the ones we invent in the most worrisome corner of our mind.”
As important and vital as thought is, and truthfully don’t we wish more people practiced the art, sometimes we can think too much. A lot can be said for dealing with difficulties and troubles as they come. Face it, people are going to talk if we run to the door, waving a Louisville Slugger in the air and threatening something that isn’t even there.
Next time you have a problem or difficulty, make sure it’s actually in the room with you before you lash out.
More Quotes About Adversity.
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Karen says
May 13, 2011 at 5:57 pmThat quote really hit home for me. I tend to be an over thinker, so already imagining difficulties and stressing about them is something I’m working on. And when I think back, I always realize that when I actually deal with them, I’ve been able to overcome them – nothing is impossible. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, you have some great blogs!
Procrastinating Pete says
May 26, 2011 at 3:10 amVery inspirational. Difficulties will eventually lead us to something that we will be proud of. It is important to make sure that we will have ways on how to deal with it and how to solve them. Let’s use negative things to produce positive things. Let difficulties bring us to our success.
joi says
May 26, 2011 at 7:15 amPete… love your “name,” Procrastinating Pete. That’s awesome! I find this quote to be very inspirational as well. Theodore Vail actually has A LOT of great quotes, I need to make a page for him in the inspirational quotes section!
William E. Powers says
June 22, 2011 at 3:28 amThis quote is all too true. Throughout my world tours as an inspirational self help healer, I have met millions of people who simply cannot overcome the problems in their mind. It is always worth remembering that you can do anything you set your mind to. The easiest way to get great results however, is to have an experienced guide take you there. That’s where healers come in.
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