Weightlifting has been a passion of mine for almost six years. But it wasn't until I started high school that it became a staple of my daily life. In the gym, I encounter challenges, setbacks and failures every day. For example, I recently faced a minor setback due to severe wrist pain that only got worse even though proper precautions were taken to ensure a speedy recovery. An injury like this was difficult to overcome mentally because it was a small inconvenience that greatly hindered my ability to perform. A necessary three-month recovery period was a huge blow to my personal growth. Over time, I began to realize that my years of dedication were not wasted and that I had deserved a period of rest. From this experience, I learned that with the right mindset and perseverance, I will not fail to achieve my goals. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay A positive attitude has propelled every aspect of my life to new levels of success. Just three months after the onset of my wrist pain, I surpassed most of my previous weightlifting accomplishments. I no longer felt lost and disappointed because one of my vital dreams had come true. A good state of mind also allowed me to find a real discipline which consequently gave positive results both in my schooling and in my personal life. However, the driving force that pushed me to discover this new mindset could not have been established without the earlier dilemmas. I have since become familiar with the concept that I must have what appear to be negative experiences when in fact so many positives can be taken from the situation. Perseverance has been an equally important tool for me to overcome obstacles. I faced a lot of unconscious self-sabotage for not achieving my goals. It took realizing that I wanted to be the best at something to change my toxic thought process for the better. I took advantage of my wrist injury to mentally prepare myself for a big return to sport. When I returned, the motivation was there and I used it to consistently achieve my gym goals through months of vigorous effort. As a result, I found myself happier and healthier. Additionally, consistency has been a primary source in helping me connect with like-minded people who push me to be the best version of myself. The combination of perseverance and healthy thinking when I injured my wrist turned out to be a blessing in disguise for my future success..