We’re all familiar with the phrase/philosophy: “It doesn’t make any difference how many times you fall down but how many times you get back up.” It’s true. The only problem is that if you’re the one, flat on your back, and this is being aimed at you, you may feel like strangling whoever is suggesting this – even if it is only the expression on their face that is speaking.
Getting back up is never simple or easy though it really is the only logical option. But what does this mean… exactly? What does getting back up accomplish other than standing upright rather than lying flat on one’s back? Obviously getting back up can’t include repeating the words/behaviors that got you on your back in the first place. Does this mean ‘returning’ to the point that occasioned the fall or do you start from where you are? No simple or even standard answer and ‘it depends’ is not a particularly helpful comment… accurate, just not helpful.
Whether easy or difficult, getting back up requires some exertion on your part and then after standing upright you’ll need to do… something. Personally, I’ve found that when I rush into an action or explanation, I typically compound the problem. The first thing I need to do is to know why I ended up on my back. This answer will get me on the path to a resolution. But, simply knowing what I should have done may now be too late, so I need to know what should be done next.
You obviously started in the direction you were heading for a reason… before you fell – do you remember? Equally important, is it still of value? Or does it need postponing till a more propitious time? I believe it is important that we know why we started and whether we should continue before getting back up or we could find ourselves in the same predicament that occasioned our fall. It does seem counterproductive to simply stand again without considering the issues. Getting back up is critically important to ‘moving on’ but why do so unthinkingly?
