A story about the value of unwavering determination.
When Regina the rye loaf started to take shape as dough, she knew that her sole mission was to rise. But she soon realized that something wasn’t right…
Emma always baked rye loaves at home, so she knew the recipe by heart. Even with distractions, she always got the ingredients right. But somehow, she missed on her measurements this time around.
Realizing her mistake after seeing a slower than usual rise, she exclaimed “Oh no! I didn’t use enough yeast in the dough. Now my rye loaf won’t rise.”
Upon hearing Emma’s calamity, Regina thought to herself, “Well, I’m not going to be the first of Regina’s loaves to end up flat…I’ve got to think of something!”
Regina knew how extremely difficult it would be to rise with less yeast than required. But she contended that anything is possible when one is determined to succeed. Resigned, Emma put the dough in the baking pan and placed it in the oven. She had zero expectations of her usual quality rye loaf. “I guess once it bakes, I can chop it into small pieces and make croutons instead.”
But Regina had other ideas. It would take a lot more effort than previous rye loaves used, but she was raring to go. “I’ve decided that I’m going to take several deep breaths while baking and exhale powerfully to help with rising,” she said. “I know that I have what it takes to be successful,” she affirmed.
And with that, Regina kept going. She kept pushing herself little by little until the peak of the loaf started to rise. She knew right away that her hard work would pay off. When Emma peeked in the oven and saw the rise, she was excited by what she called a miracle rise. Regina beamed
Regina knew that in the natural order of life, things often happen predictably once certain steps are taken. But in times when a step might be missed, the outcome is oftentimes unpredictable.
She also recognized the importance of determination in ensuring the desired outcome. Sometimes, there is only so much to leave up to the natural order of things.
In the case of Emma’s blunder of using too little yeast in her rye recipe, the outcome, though predictable, shaped up to be disastrous. But it’s possible to avert disaster once you act quickly and rely on your inner drive to reverse your fate.
Life has a way of throwing curve balls. The negative outcome may seem unavoidable, but things turn around for the better when you refuse to give up.
Constant focus on your end goal always gives you the extra push to drive through obstacles or speed bumps. Reject thoughts of defeat and affirm your ability to thrive.
When you take that path, your negatives turn into positives. Stay resolute and watch the promise of success unfold in front of you.
Until you see the result, wait in expectation of greatness. This is the formula for positive living.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- How do I know when there is more perseverance left in me?
- Which examples from others do I use to motivate myself?
- How much time do I spend sharpening my skills?
