Dealing with Defeat

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9)

There can be terrible agony and discouragement in defeat. This is especially so when one was convinced of winning.  You have given it your all but by the end of it all, you have lost- fair and square.  And in some endeavors, only one person can win. Mohammed Ali said after he lost in one of his fights, “I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life. ”

So what sustains you in defeat? It is the principles of integrity and fair play, honesty, truth and charity, and putting the good of others such as your family and country above your selfish interests. Like Mitt Romney said in his concession speech after losing his presidential bid in 2012, “you have to put the people before the politics”. Hatred and bickering is not the answer. You need to be gracious in defeat.

It is good to believe in a higher purpose in everything so that you are not crushed; to believe that everything works together for the good. “Therefore… we do not lose heart. … We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. … we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God… We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4: 1-9)

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“Somewhere in the world there is a defeat for everyone. Some are destroyed by defeat, and some made small and mean by victory. Greatness lives in one who triumphs equally over defeat and victory.”  -  John Steinbeck

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