Triumph and Disaster

The “Triumph and Disaster” line is a classic line from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF”, it reminds us that we shouldn’t let success turn our heads, and we shouldn’t let failure discourage us, because both have these things in common: neither is absolute nor lasting. We should take both success and failure with equanimity as the aim of both is to change our lives. Success can make us feel over-confident and other related feelings get into our head whereas defeat lowers our morale and confidence and restricts us from doing anything further. We should not give into hopelessness when our dream breaks. Instead, we should pick up the pieces and turn the disaster into triumph.

Everything has two sides, positive as well as negative. There is a positive side of triumph and negative side of disaster. If a person wins then he may also lose someday. If happiness is there, then sadness is obvious. If a tree bears leaves then it also sheds them. Taken as a whole, one can get to face anything in this whole world. A person can fake his achievements, but it is through his failures that he learns. Every failure is a stepping stone towards triumph. During a disaster, when a person looses his morale and physical and mental strength is exhausted only the will power remains. When there is nothing inside a person he should just hold on to courage, will-power, confidence as these are the things which will provide support.

Triumph and failure are partners and as Kipling suggests, when we meet them, we should try to treat them as equals. This is the quality that will help us face life in a more stable way.