Winning all the time might sound ideal — but it rarely is.
We learn more from challenge than we do from comfort, and that truth has stuck with me ever since I first saw The Twilight Zone.
It’s strange to say, but some of the most enduring life lessons have come not from mentors or books, but from that iconic black-and-white series. It’s even where I first saw Robert Redford act — long before the movie-star polish. The stories in The Twilight Zone had a way of simplifying complex truths.
One episode in particular stands out.
A man — a criminal — is shot and dies. He wakes up in what seems to be heaven. Every woman he meets says yes. Every hand at the blackjack table is a win. There are long queues at the best restaurants, yet he’s ushered right in without waiting. He has everything he ever wanted, instantly.
But before long, the thrill wears off. He becomes restless. Frustrated. He turns to his mysterious host and says, “Come on — this is supposed to be heaven.” The host smiles and replies:
“My brother, this is not heaven.”
That’s the point.
The greatest “yes” moments in life — the most meaningful wins — usually follow a string of no’s. Without resistance, growth stops. Without contrast, pleasure fades. When everything comes easy, nothing feels valuable.
✦ Takeaway
If you’re not hearing “no” often, you’re probably playing too safe. The good stuff — the life-defining wins — only land when you’ve earned them. That’s what makes them stick.
Earn your wins.
Cheers,
NB