Try, Try Again

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

I imagine most, if not all of you, have heard that quote at least once before. It's a quote that has been around for a very long time. In fact, it’s been around so long, people are really sure where it started.

Sometimes, the problem with old quotes like that is we've heard them so many times, it's like the words have lost all their meaning—our brains don't even register what exactly it is that we're saying.

Let’s break it down

Let's break down this quote and explore a little deeper to discover the meaning.

The first part says "If at first you don't succeed..."

How often do you get things right on the first try? I know I don't always master a new skill on my first attempt.

OK. Now, the second part of the quote says "…try, try again."

Well, sure. If you don't get the key in the lock on your first attempt, you're probably going to try again so you can get into the house.

But, it doesn't just say "try again"—it says "try, try again."

I feel like that is significant.

It's saying whether you try once, twice, or twenty times—keep trying.

There is a huge difference between not succeeding and just plain failing. I believe failing implies that you have given up and will not be trying again. To not succeed leaves room for improvement and more tries.

Think of life like a video game

During our recent series on ADHD and games on Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast, Pete said something that really stuck with me:

If you fail in the game, you just put another quarter in and play again.

How great is that?!

Just because you didn't get the high score on your first attempt doesn't mean you give up forever and stop playing. It means you learn and grow and keep trying until you reach success!

Once you put in the work to succeed, it will feel so much better when you finally make it.

It's your turn!

Is there something you have been trying but you aren't seeing any success? I would like to challenge you to try again today. See how you might make some adjustments or try a new strategy. Continue to try and see what happens!

Thank you for your time and attention,

-Nikki