When a person did their best, do not scold them for failure.

Today is George Washington’s birthday. We should pause and take a few moments to reflect on one of his most famous quotes: “When a person did their best, do not scold them for failure.”

I believe this is an important motto to follow in life because failure is often a prerequisite for success. We should not fear failure of anything because failure is a negative form of faith. We bring into being the things that we have faith in and focus on—the good and the bad.

The things that we fear, we bring into existence.

So focus not on what you fear, focus on what you desire in life.

Approach your life with courage and watch your blessings unfold.

You will be amazed at what you can accomplish in this life.

But everything in life comes at a price.

Resolve to do what you need to do to be successful in this life without fear of anything or anyone. Just do it, even if you’re shaking.

Take a deep breath. Take the first step. Then take the next step.

Keep stepping.

Taking one logical step after another, until you bring forth what you want.

Advancing every day toward your goal without fear of failure.

You don’t have to figure out everything all at once. You just have to take the first step and learn from every experience you have in life, correcting your path whenever you realize you’ve off course in reaching your goal. Forgive yourself for mistakes. Remember your goal.

To be successful in life, you have to have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. Write it down. Find your supporters.

That is the first step.

Creating a clear vision of what you want to accomplish and surrounding yourself with the right people. People respond to great visions.

That’s why George Washington was such a great president. He had a clear vision for our nation, he was able to recruit men who shared the vision and he was willing to fight for that vision without a fear of failure. He pulled the best out of his men who often fought without food, clothing and compensation.

He did not criticize them when he knew they had done their best.

They fought for the dream of liberty without adequate resources.

They didn’t win all of the battles, in fact, often they suffered great loss.

But they keep on going in the face of failure and that’s what we must do today when failure appears to be holding us back.

We must keep fighting for what we want to bring forth in this world.

Very few things in life are accomplished on the first try. The American Revolutionary War was not won in the first battle. But we won the war under George Washington’s fearless leadership. They kept fighting in the face of failures. Most great feats are accomplished after years of focused effort. Often the death of great souls has been the price.

Think of the courage that was associated with the founding of the United States of America. That’s the courage we need restored today.

Courage that had no fear.

Courage is required to build American into the land of opportunity for all.

Think of Martin Luther King.

Think of the many men and women who died for the dreams written into the U.S. Constitution. Equal rights for all. Liberty. Justice. Pursuit of happiness. Inalienable rights for all. Religious freedom. Powerful concepts we must struggle to keep and bring into existence. A strong educational foundation for all citizens. Equal opportunities for all.

But writing our dreams on paper doesn’t make them come true.

We must follow up our words with action to being our dreams into reality.

We must take bold actions without fear today.

We must become the best that we can be to make American all that it can be.

And American must become the best that it can be, for the world to be a better place for all. The people in each nation must grow to their greatest human potential, for the world to reach its greatest potential.

Each individual has a role to play. The world’s symphony will not be the same without your part being played.

So figure out what it is and play your part without fear.

Everybody is important, so don’t criticize the person who has done their best.

Instead encourage them to try again.

Nobody’s a complete failure until they quit trying.