Three Stories Of Defeat That Will Inspire You

Nowadays, people say that a problem is a possibility and that defeat is the beginning of a victory. In fact, we hear it so often that we are barely aware of its significance. We often forget the great truth encapsulated in these affirmations. To prove this, there are many stories of defeat that later became an inspiration.

Triumph and defeat are in fact fleeting moments. What really matters is the process, both internal and external. This exciting pursuit of something new ignites changes in us that we must take advantage of. Keep in mind that people are malleable. We all experience our own individual process through which we grow and move forward.

Sometimes perseverance is what makes the difference between a defeat and a victory. The problem is that some defeats can leave us with a sense of hopelessness. Therefore, stories of defeat are not only exciting, but they also leave us hopeful as they teach us that it is possible to get another chance.

Below we will share three inspiring stories of defeat. Enjoy!

1. Abraham Lincoln: A Persistent Man

Abraham Lincoln is possibly one of the most important divr in the history of the United States because he abolished slavery. He was president of the United States twice. During his presidency, the American Civil War began, resulting in the ultimate unification of US territory.

We can not talk about inspiring stories of defeat without mentioning Lincoln. Although he experienced hard times, he was successful. He was born into a very poor family and had to work since he was seven years old to support his family.

His mother died when he was just nine years old. Lincoln did not have the opportunity to go to school, but he taught himself everything he needed to know to become a lawyer.

However, his political career was not exactly what one would call “successful”. Several times he was beaten in his quest for election. He also went bankrupt when he was 24 years old and he spent the next 17 years of his life paying off debt.

His fiance died suddenly, causing him to suffer from a nervous breakdown. Thanks to his enormous will, he was able to keep fighting until he finally became a significant figure in the history and world of his country.

2. Arianna Huffington: One of the most inspiring stories of defeat

Arianna Huffington was born in Athens, Greece in 1950. The separation of her parents certainly gave her a scar during her childhood. She studied economics at Girton College in Cambridre, where she stood out for her leadership skills.

She later moved to the United States, where she married a congressman. The end of her marriage marked a before and after in her life.

At this point, she decided to write a book, which was rejected by 26 editors. As a consequence, Arianna worked tirelessly to project her work and thereby achieve a better position. As a result, she collapsed. In 2007, she fainted due to chronic fatigue. It made her reconsider what she was up to.

She decided to do what she liked best and she did it without pushing herself too much to be successful. She started a blog that years later became a communications department store : the HuffPost . 

Now there are many who consider her to be one of the most influential women in the world. It is one of the greatest and most inspiring stories of defeat.

3. Frank McCourt: From Homeless to Celebrity

Frank McCourt is the author of the famous novel,  Angela’s Ashes. It became so famous that Alan Parker directed its 1999 film version.

This novel is an autobiographical work, through which McCourt tells of the overwhelming accident he has been through. To sum up , his family has only experienced misery. His father was an alcoholic who left him and his brothers.

In fact, one of his siblings died because of the difficult circumstances they faced every day. They lived in risky conditions. They had only a latrine and practically nothing to eat.

Frank had to start working at a very young age while going to school at the same time. He did not even have shoes he could wear. He also suffered from typhus and almost died.

When he was 19 years old, and after carefully saying thank you for his work as a postman, he achieved a lifelong dream: To return to the United States, where he was originally from. There he became an excellent writer. His most famous work, Angela’s Ashes,  won him the Pulitzer Prize in 1999.

These are just a few of the incredibly inspiring stories of defeat. As you can see, persistence is the common denominator in all of them. Those who work hard and do not give up when an obstacle gets in the way are those who end up making progress.