I didn’t intend to stay up late last night, but I was held captive in front of the TV, mesmerized by the Texas Longhorns’ thrilling victory in the Rose Bowl. Led by the “in-vince-able” Vince Young, the Longhorns simply refused to give up, and as a result they snatched away the National Championship from the hands of a very talented USC team.

Come-from-behind victories are always sweeter. Every sport has its stellar examples of true champions who never gave up, no matter how bad the situation looked, and who ultimately emerged with the victory. These stunning victories should live on not only in the record books and in our memories, but in our lives. Every one of us should live our daily lives with the same positive attitude and determination to succeed as our sports heroes.

With just seconds left in the game, Vince Young faced 4th down and 5 yards to go at the USC 8 yard line. Last chance, it’s now or never! Vince wanted to throw the ball. Although a handful of Longhorn receivers were scrambling to get open, USC players had them all covered.

Switch the channel to your own life…how would you react in this situation? You’ve planned out a realistic success strategy, but obstacles thwart your every attempt. Do you blame circumstances for your failure, do you get discouraged, do you allow negative thoughts to crowd your mind? Or do you learn from that experience and move on to Plan B with confidence and determination?

Remember our hero, Vince Young? Less than a month ago, he dealt with the bitter disappointment of not winning the Heismann Trophy. But last night Vince didn’t let past disappointments cloud his thinking or dampen his enthusiasm and confidence. He didn’t waste time bemoaning that his original plan was foiled. When circumstances kept him from passing the ball as he wanted to do, he simply switched his full attention to Plan B and ran the ball into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. Vince commented after the game, “Do whatever it takes. It’s all about heart, focus and poise.”

What’s your reaction when things don’t work out the way that you envisioned? Take a page from Vince Young’s playbook and move forward with confidence, determination, and faith in your own abilities to overcome all obstacles. Be invincible!

© Karen Wheeler Hall – All Rights Reserved

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or website, provided you include the resource box and the active link to my website. Please notify me when it is used.

Karen Wheeler Hall is the author of Illumination – Inspiring Stories about Finding the Silver Lining, available from http://www.KarenWheelerHall.com/, on-line bookstores, and through major bookstores nationwide. Karen is a Registered Dietitian who has worked for over 20 years supporting Texans with mental retardation and mental illness. Read a sample story from the book at http://www.KarenWheelerHall.com.

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