Breaking Beyond My Limits: A Journey of Overcoming Failure, Anger, and Self-Discovery

Image generated by AI using DALL·E.

Introduction

Life is full of limitations, some are external, created by circumstances and the opinions of others, while others are internal, built from our own fears and self-doubt. These barriers can make us feel stuck, incapable, or unworthy of success. Many people allow these limitations to define them, holding back from reaching their full potential.

However, limitations are not meant to break us; they are meant to be broken. Every challenge, failure, or discouraging word presents an opportunity to rise above and push beyond what seems possible. It is in these moments of struggle that we truly discover our strength, resilience, and the power to go beyond what others, or even we ourselves, thought we could achieve.

Breaking Beyond My Limits: A Journey of Overcoming Failure, Anger, and Self-Discovery

In life, there are limitations that we often face, fear, self-doubt, societal expectations, and negative words. These limitations often appear as barriers preventing us from reaching our true potential. But if we understand them for what they are, we can break through and achieve greatness. I’ve experienced these limitations firsthand, and I’ve learned that the most significant growth often comes from the challenges we face. Here’s my journey of breaking past limitations and how failure, anger, and the power of words have shaped who I am today.

The Power of Failure: Seeing It as an Opportunity to Grow

My story began with a series of failures and setbacks that could have easily defined my life in a negative way. When I started school, I was often called dull and incapable. In Grade 1, I couldn’t even write the number 2 correctly. I wrote it upside down, and this small mistake set the tone for years of self-doubt and negative reinforcement from teachers and peers. I struggled to keep up with my classmates, skipping classes and enduring beatings from teachers who seemed more interested in punishing me than in helping me discover my potential. These experiences left me feeling invisible, unsure of myself, and trapped in a cycle of failure.

But failure, as I would later realize, is not the end of the story, it’s an opportunity to grow. When I was sent to Lufwanyama with my sister, Kezia, to live with our aunt, I faced even more challenges. I couldn’t space words properly when writing, and my uncle made it clear that, at my age, I should know better. I was laughed at and mocked for my mistakes, but instead of letting those negative words define me, I decided to face my limitations head-on.

Anger as a Catalyst for Change

Anger can be destructive, but it can also serve as a powerful motivator. The anger I felt at being belittled and underestimated became the fuel that pushed me to prove myself. Instead of directing that anger at the people who mocked me, I channeled it toward my own limitations. I made the decision to change.

I started working on myself, not for anyone else, but for my own growth. My sister and I became prefects at Lufwanyama Primary School, despite not being able to speak fluent English. This achievement wasn’t because we were the smartest; it was because we refused to let our past define us. We didn’t let the negative words or expectations hold us back. I used that anger to push past my fears and doubts.

In Grades 8 and 9, I began to discover what I was truly capable of. My sister and I passed our exams without any malpractice or leakage, which was a significant achievement at the time. But as we returned to Kitwe, hoping for a fresh start, another setback awaited.

The Struggle with Expectations and Being Misunderstood

At Malela Secondary School, things took an unexpected turn. Instead of starting school in the morning, as I had hoped, I was placed in the afternoon session, which was reserved for students who had failed and were repeating their studies. At first, I didn’t understand why I was in this class, but when my classmates told me that everyone there had failed, I was shocked. I went the next day with my results to prove them wrong, but the response was devastating: "What are you doing here? All who are here have failed."

That moment was crushing. I felt rejected, misunderstood, and discouraged. I lost interest in school and considered quitting altogether. But I refused to let this setback define me. I knew deep down that I was capable of more than what others believed about me. I made a decision: I would face my fears, correct my past mistakes, and not let the negativity of others shape my future.

The Transformation: Facing Limitations and Correcting My Mistakes

Despite the challenges, I knew I had to keep moving forward. I wasn’t interested in school for the sake of pleasing others anymore, I was doing it for myself. I began to teach myself how to speak and write like a professional through YouTube English videos. I studied late into the night, practicing my writing and speaking skills until I felt confident enough to call myself capable.

I worked hard to face my academic limitations and corrected my mistakes. By the time I graduated, I was no longer seen as the dull, incapable student. I was known as someone who had turned their life around through perseverance and hard work. The negative words that once defined me had lost their power, and I was now defining myself by my actions, not by the opinions of others.

Breaking My Limits: Going Beyond the Expected

Today, I am not the same person I once was. I no longer fight against people, but I fight against my own limitations. I strive to be better than I was yesterday. Every challenge I face is just another opportunity to break through and prove to myself that I am capable of more. It is another year, another giant ahead of me, and I am ready to break my limits once again.

I don’t blame God for anything that has happened in my life. Instead, I see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and go beyond. There is no challenge higher than me, and there is no challenge I can’t face. In fact, I reached a point where I became used to challenges. I started looking for them, asking life, "Is this all you have?" Every challenge pushed me into a corner and helped me discover who I truly am. I learned to go beyond my limits, and I continue to rise whenever I am knocked down.

The Impact of Negative Words: Shaping Our Lives and Bodies

Negative words have a profound effect on our lives. They don’t just affect our mindset, they also impact our bodies. Research has shown that constant exposure to negative comments, whether from others or ourselves, can increase stress levels, lower self-esteem, and even lead to physical health issues. Negative words create an environment of fear and insecurity that can prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our goals.

But the good news is that we don’t have to let those words define us. We have the power to choose how we react. By replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations, we can create a healthier mental and emotional environment for ourselves. The words we speak and the words we allow into our hearts shape who we are. And by choosing to focus on encouragement, possibility, and growth, we can break free from the power of negative words.

Anger: A Double-Edged Sword

Anger is often seen as a destructive emotion, but it can also be a catalyst for change. When channeled correctly, anger can drive us to take action, to break free from the limitations others place on us, and to confront our own fears. However, uncontrolled anger can be destructive. It can harm relationships, cloud judgment, and prevent growth.

The key to using anger as a tool for growth is learning to manage it. Instead of letting anger consume us, we can direct it toward positive change. Anger can be a powerful motivator when we choose to use it to fuel our personal growth, confront challenges head-on, and break through limitations.

Conclusion

I’m not the kind of person who stays down when knocked. I rise again, dust myself off, and continue fighting. Life will always present challenges, but it’s how we respond to those challenges that defines us. We all have the power to break beyond our limits. Failure is not the end; it is an opportunity to learn and grow. Negative words do not have to shape our lives, and anger does not have to be a force for destruction. When used wisely, it can be a source of motivation.

I encourage you to face your own limitations, to rise above the negative words, and to use every challenge as an opportunity to grow. The only limits that truly exist are the ones we place on ourselves. So, go beyond. Break the chains. And remember, you are capable of more than you think.