Success and Failure - Why Do Some Things Succeed While Others Don't?

by Robert Wilkinson

Today we take a brief look at one of the intersections of fate and free will. There is a widespread misconception about Astrology that because our charts show it's a "good" time or "bad" time for certain things we are allowed to ignore our responsibility to act as we should and not act as we shouldn't. To quote some timeless wisdom from The Bard, "The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves if we are underlings." We alone manifest our lives through the consequences of our actions and inactions. Whether or not these are in our best interests and can really get our intention accomplished determines a lot of what happens.

Our stars cannot make anything happen of themselves, nor can any Astrological, Tarot, psychic, or "spiritual" self-help reading make a thing happen or not happen. In my book "A New Look At Mercury Retrograde," there is an explanation about why planets do not cause anything:

Even if we use astrology, we still live our own lives and make our own choices. Invariably, we are either acting, not acting, or being acted upon. Planetary configurations are relevant to us in our chosen field of activity, in our life energies, and the varying circumstances that influence us. An astrological configuration cannot make us act appropriately, or solve a problem in and of itself. Many configurations completely pass us by, with the "good ones" not magically bringing expected good nor the "bad ones" visiting disaster upon us. Any configuration only manifests to the degree we are living life, and not merely being spectators waiting for something to happen.

No matter how great a set of aspects is in our chart, if we are limited we cannot achieve the best use of those aspects. If we are avoiding obvious limitations and choose to push forward with a project, or fail to follow through at critical moments due to fear, attachment, or buying into illusions, then we will experience failure. These are meant to teach us to get beyond those limitations, not blame the circumstances or someone else for our failure, or hope that somehow magically things will turn around, even if sometimes they do.

Whether we "succeed" or "fail" at something involves several things, including circumstances, effort, and timing. If these are not correct, then usually we don't achieve the results we desire. Of these, the last two are within our control, while the first usually isn't. And if the circumstances are not correct, then no amount of effort or right astrological timing will make our project succeed.

Real world circumstances influence our choices to act or not act in our best interests, and while we don't control the circumstances, we always control our responses to those circumstances. Some circumstances do not permit "success" as we envision it, and even when they do, if we don't do the right things in the right ways and times, we cannot succeed.

For example, we cannot drive two thousand miles with only $20 for gas. We cannot catch trout in a bass pond, nor can we plant potatoes in great soil with the Moon in a fertile sign and get a crop when there is snow on the ground. We cannot sell products to people who want to buy something else, or make someone "do the right thing." We cannot make someone else want to be in a healthy relationship with us if they don't want that. And while we can pray for some things, we cannot make them come. Some things are beyond our control.

That brings me to another key point. If we visualize a desired end, prepare the skills and resources that must be implemented, start it at the right time in the right way and place, and persevere in doing what we must to achieve the result, then usually we get some measure of success. HOWEVER! If in doing that effort we violate one critical factor, then no matter what, our efforts will never succeed.

Regardless of what we believe is good or desired, we must not violate our integrity and what we're here to learn and Be, or at some point our "truth of being," or karma, or guardian angel, or another Spiritual component in our lives will put a stick in our spokes to keep us from error. Something about "leave us not in temptation" comes to mind. Spirit has many ways and means to redirect us from erroneous aim, whether we think we are in error or not.

If our desires are pulling us away from what we are to learn about selfless service this life, then at some point our desires will be frustrated or wrecked altogether. We can effort mightily in a direction, but if it's fundamentally not true for us, or is leading us away from our best and Highest Self and purpose for being here on Earth, or the "failure" is part of our higher path of Self-realization, then inevitably our efforts will not bring us the success we hope for. This helps us learn detachment, dispassion, and discrimination.

When our best efforts have failed, it's important to do reflective work using objectivity and compassion to understand if we were in error, and if possible make appropriate corrections. We cannot afford to find fault in circumstances or any other external thing, even if these were involved in what did or didn't happen. These are secondary to our understanding of our responsibility to act or not act appropriately, and see what constitutes "right view," "right effort," "right action," and "right realization."

Of course, compassion also dictates that we remember the hard human truth that even if we do everything correctly, "sometimes the answer is no." A crop failure may not come from our actions or inactions, but it's always important to take responsibility for whatever part we did play in the larger event, and if we "failed," examine how we can become better people for the experience.

Our willingness to rise to our challenges appropriately determines how the outcome of those challenges affects our lives. How we respond determines future possibilities of succeeding in fulfilling our purpose. Sometimes just rising to the occasion brings forth our better Self, whether we succeed or fail at whatever. An apparent defeat today can bring forth skills and understandings that will be the foundation of future successes.

I'll close this brief essay on our responsibility to drive our own boat and not blame externals for our apparent worldly failures and frustrations with a reminder from The Three Truths: "Each man is his own absolute law-giver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment." Something to consider as we move and groove through the intersections of fate and free will.

© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Rodney Walsh]

I totally agree with you. This is a well written essay. I hope many people read and put to use what you have written here, because the bottom line is, "We choose our success."

[danae]

Hello Robert, thanks for an interesting article and much food for thought. Its rather synchronicitous, if one believes in that sort of thing, to have come here to read this today.
I can't help but hold the opinion that there is a need to redefine 'good' and 'bad' - to look at ideas of success and failure, 'right' and 'wrong'. The crop yields no fruit - is it a failure? Really? Was the work of raising the crop wasted? Perhaps there were moments of profound connection with the land that brought about inner changes, or some other story. Who knows.
As I wrote on my blog today there is an immediate tendency to problematize, dismiss, reject and deny when there is something that does not fit with expectation or perceived 'need'. We throw away our 'junk' - those things about ourselves and our lives that 'don't work' - and all that is unacceptable to us, but all we're really doing is shifting it to other places.

And yet, the Universe is perfect, we have everything we need and nothing we don't - come what may.

Yes, you are so right about being responsible - self-accountable if you like. If I have learned one thing in this lifetime its that nothing that happens 'outside' of me is also happening 'inside' - they are the same.

[(now not so)scared]

True words of wisdom!
Thanks.

[Felita]

Dear Robert and others, I seem to feel that sucess is relative to getting what we want not necessarily what we need. I always say " Have no expectations and you CANT be disapointed" We come in with what weve got its our personal coping mechanisms that decree how we tackle this. And once we go the high road we cant walk the low road or our soul knows its own betrayal.Follow the heart not the head yet have discrimination. Thanking you for your concise wisdom and clarification of the individual journey. Aum Shanti Felita.

[sonja]

Hi Robert,

If you asked me what one positive characteristic I possessed, I would have said, "Responsibility" for most of my life. A while back, that perception was rocked to the core as I realized that, if I did everything correctly and the desired result did not occur, it was someone else's fault. As you stated, sometimes the answer is "no" even though we do everything right and we cannot play the blame game. I am now emerging (the Phoenix rises again) after a period of "fear of doing the wrong thing" and a subsequent period of deep reflection of my life's events to become another persona - one that I hope will lead me further on the right path. Thank you for your kindness and treatises such as this one which help nurture me through many a dark night.

[Robert]

Hi Rodney - Thanks. We truly have more power to control our "destiny" than many suspect. Thanks for commenting.

Hi danae - It seemed like a good thing to remind us that we have the ability to determine the manifestation of our planets to a large degree. Yes, "good" and "bad" are usually in the eye of the beholder, and we really don't know what IS good and bad in the long run. "Success" and "failure" are often not able to be determined until we watch the movie of our lives from the other side. Life is a funny thing, with many interrelated things not understood until more experience is assimilated. You're also very right that preconceived notions and vain expectations often turn out to be illusions. Something about "rearranging the deck chairs while the boat sinks" comes to mind. Inner and outer do a dance, and mirror each other.

Hi (not now so) scared - Good that you're learning we have the power to transcend fear. Fairly quickly, if you think about it.

Hi Felita - Very Zen insight about no expectations. The high road usually yields the finest quality insights.

Hi sonja - Responsibility comes and goes, and we learn various forms of it through equally varied experiences. Sometimes it's to accept the Divine Will, other times it's to effort as strongly as we can without attachment to the outcome. A good Dharma practice, whether pleasant or not. Glad you're no longer fearing "doing the wrong thing" since now you know better. We all go through dark nights - we're all in this together, and will learn to hang together so we don't all hang separately, to reference the august Dr. Franklin.

[AceStar]

very good article dear Robert! u cleared alot of things for us my friend :)

good luck

Love