Embracing “Failure” as a Tool for Perseverance

Back in 2021, when I first embarked on my Finnish journey, I was overwhelmed by distractions. I was a digital nomad in Mexico, trying to expand my podcast and grow my remote architectural drafting business, while also seeking a place to settle down.

Fortunately, I never found my niche in drafting, as most architects prefer in-person collaboration over endless emails. Juggling these various interests meant I often worked 60 hours a week just to earn for 30.

The universe seemed to push me toward learning Finnish, but it required me to relinquish these competing ambitions. Letting go of these dreams initially felt like rejecting opportunities for greatness. As a result, my Finnish studies barely progressed in 2021 because my focus was split between my podcast and drafting.

I documented my early struggles with Finnish here:

Language Learning: The Secret Power of a Rough Start

In September 2022, I made the decision to prioritize Finnish above all else. Once I committed, it became much easier to set everything else aside. From that moment on, any job—whether in architecture or hospitality—was secondary to my Finnish studies.

Universal forces reward those who commit almost exclusively to their pursuits.

The Ineffectiveness of “External Rewards”

As humans, we naturally seek validation for our efforts. I explore effective motivation strategies for language learning here:

Language Learning: Over and Underrated Ways to Motivate Yourself

When I emphasize the importance of intrinsic satisfaction in language learning, I often face skepticism. People question the validity of learning for “career opportunities,” “immigration goals,” or “admissions.”

The issue with external rewards is that they make language learning feel obligatory. Every few months, you might find yourself questioning if you've achieved those career goals yet, only to realize they are likely years away. You won’t be able to sustain daily effort solely for distant rewards.

Language learning must be fulfilling in the present. Find aspects of the language that resonate with you and focus on those. Introduce short-term motivators, like speaking opportunities. I first engaged with a Finnish speaker when my level was only A1, which led to an invitation to a monthly conversation group, further motivating me to improve.

A Healthy Perspective on External Rewards

Certainly, I anticipate significant benefits from my Finnish journey. This understanding comes from the realization that focusing on Finnish leads to seemingly “magical” opportunities.

When you align every aspect of your being with your endeavor, the universe responds. Every decision I make, when aligned with my commitment to Finnish, favors that path.

The universe will guide you toward opportunities based on your ideal self. Any specific goals—like career advancements—are just projections of your current self and fail to account for how you will evolve.

Would you allow your younger self to dictate your choices today? Probably not, as you have grown and refined your personality over time.

So why let your present self determine your future? Your circumstances will change, making any “rational” goals misaligned with your future self.

Finding intrinsic satisfaction in your language journey allows the universe to present future rewards at the right moments.

Trust in yourself and the unseen forces of life.

Choosing a Singular Focus Expands Life's Possibilities

I’ve always thought that committing to a single endeavor would limit my life's opportunities. For instance, if I concentrated on Finnish, would I be closing myself off from living in other countries?

Consider a highway exit: you must either continue straight or take the ramp. “Keeping your options open” can lead to crashing into barriers.

Often, these indecisive “default decisions” are worse than choosing a preferred path!

However, by committing to one direction, more possibilities can open up later on that you cannot foresee. If I pursue Finnish to its completion, I will unlock many opportunities, many of which remain unpredictable.

You must either make a calculated decision to exit or stay on course. There is no space for “hedging your bets” with multiple projects and distractions.

While my language tracking may seem contradictory at times, I still gain valuable insights from studying other languages. Healthy exploration can reinforce my commitment to Finnish.

Final Reflections

With extensive data, I can identify my phases of stability and instability. While exploration is beneficial, I have noticed a dip in my “pure conviction” for Finnish during these times, occurring approximately every three months.

Seasonal changes have historically been challenging for me, as they remind me of the passage of time and my progress toward goals. If I feel stagnant compared to the previous year, it can be tough to handle. Often, my language journey is the one area where I see progress, while other aspects, like career and income, may feel stagnant.

Living in Sydney, Australia, where the climate is milder, I experienced less intense seasonal changes, which allowed me to focus on long-term goals and enjoy life more naturally.

Yet, seasonal exploration can also be a healthy cycle that ultimately strengthens my commitment to Finnish.

Currently, my Finnish skills are on the cusp of reaching the B1 CEFR level, and with this understanding, I’m ready for a significant push.

Tracking my time makes perseverance a conscious choice. Without this system, the decision to “quit” can become unconscious.

My graph also enables me to take healthy, monitored breaks, such as my recent pause from Mandarin. I never feared quitting because I could see my logged hours and knew I wasn’t neglecting Mandarin.

I have resumed my Mandarin studies recently. These imperfections are what make life beautiful.

You can access my template for creating your own language learning graph here. Simply go to “file” and select “make a copy” to personalize it. At the bottom of the spreadsheet, you’ll find a pre-made graph that updates automatically as you input data.

This earlier version of my graph is straightforward enough to adapt for your own learning journey.

Always remember that you possess everything you need to persevere today.

The key to perseverance lies in your conviction that you will see your endeavor through to completion. Do not let your sense of self-worth undermine your certainty. Personal attributes have little bearing on your ability to persist.

Perseverance is fundamentally a daily choice to prioritize your chosen pursuit above all else. When you eliminate other distractions, effort flows naturally. Times of abundance often bring unnecessary complications.

Counterintuitively, the best time to embark on a successful journey is during challenging times. Adversity tends to reveal our truest convictions.

Trust yourself and the hidden forces of life that align with your chosen path.