Spread the love

Being told that we aren’t able to accomplish something can light a fire in our bellies and push us towards success. The desire to prove someone wrong while continuing to aim for your dreams is something that a lot of people can relate to. It’s a very human (and Panda!) thing.

LA-based TV and comic book writer Amanda Deibert started up an interesting thread on Twitter that quickly went viral. She asked people to open up about the times that someone told them that they couldn’t do something and they succeeded out of pure spite. And open up they did.

Scroll down for the most interesting success stories and for Bored Panda’s interview with the author of the thread, Amanda.

Oh, and it’s important to remember that spite isn’t the only driving force for success—that’s exactly what Amanda stressed in a follow-up tweet. When you’re done reading this list, we’d love to hear about your greatest success, dear Pandas, whether out of spite or inner drive.

More info: Twitter | AmandaDeibert.com

#1

Image credits: StripsEmily

Amanda stressed to us that spite usually isn’t the only thing behind your marathon towards success. “Well, spite can only get you so far, there has to be an actual desire to do something for yourself or for someone you care about (which hopefully also includes yourself),” she told us.

“I know I am personally motivated to do things that will in some way help or support my loved ones, especially my little girl,” the writer pointed out that love can be a very powerful motivating force.

#2

Image credits: meklingensmith

#3

Image credits: sharpestloves

Bored Panda was interested to get Amanda’s take on whether people should have very realistic, grounded goals or if they should shoot for the stars. She told us that she believes a layered approach is best.

“Shoot for the stars, but in a way that keeps your needs met in the meantime. It’s okay to make sacrifices and take risks, but calculated risks are the most likely to pay off,” she said. In her view, preparation and planning are vital components of success.

“Make sure you have prepared yourself for your journey into the stars. Astronauts spend years training and preparing for their mission. So you need to train and prepare and keep a roof over your head and nutritious food on your plate and care for your body so that when it comes time to make the leap it is worth it.”

#4

Image credits: oriridraco

#5

Image credits: MaraWilson

#6

Image credits: oliviawrightt

The journey to success is a very individual thing. According to Amanda, it’s best to focus on an approach that motivates you best as a person. She also believes that habits are the way to reach your goals. “It’s the Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours thing. You are much more likely to reach your goals eventually if you are constantly working toward them and building your skills and life in a way that supports you reaching your goals.”

This isn’t the first time that Bored Panda has featured Amanda’s tweets. We’ve previously covered her viral posts about useful life advice, as well as an incredibly creepy house listing full of mannequins.

#7

Image credits: DarkLilith

#8

Image credits: AlicePoet

#9

Image credits: JohnstonHollitt

During a previous interview, Amanda told Bored Panda that Twitter users can give some great advice, and they’re full of wisdom.

According to Amanda, it’s always easier to give advice than to listen to it because it’s far easier to see someone else’s situation clearly than it is to see our own.

“When it is our own life, we also have to deal with our own emotions and attachments and habits. I can easily see something with detachment when it isn’t my own issue. I think it is actually incredibly difficult to detach and really look at your own life,” she told us.

#10

Image credits: psybrdoc

#11

Image credits: amandaksilver

#12

Image credits: MdOlabisi

“I think change is difficult and scary and most good advice revolves around change,” she said that even not making a decision is actually a decision. One that’s very easy to make. “Good things are difficult and take work, but sitting back and allowing life to just happen is a choice.”

The fact is that success is possible for anyone and at any age. There’s a misconception going around that success is supposedly only the domain of the young and beautiful. And that’s just plain wrong. With the right drive, an active body and mind, we can reach our goals whatever the challenges.

#13

Image credits: DrKimEBarrett

#14

Image credits: Literature_Lady

#15

Image credits: aaronreynolds

Writer and award-winning editor Doug Murano from South Dakota previously spoke to Bored Panda about his extremely viral and inspirational thread about over-40’s success stories.

“I was raised to value grit over grace. That might be a South Dakota thing. The women in my life—particularly my mother and maternal grandmother—have set wonderful examples for me in terms of reinvention and perseverance,” Doug told us all about the people in his life who have helped shape his values.

“My grandmother attended university classes and became a certified Master Gardener in her 80s after my grandfather died. At 97, she still tends her own garden. My mother worked some extremely difficult jobs (including one in a meat processing plant) to help fund her doctorate. I had seen (yet another) ‘under 40’ list the day I wrote the tweet and immediately thought of them,” Doug said.

#16

Image credits: DonKeehotey

#17

Image credits: carrie1ou

#18

Image credits: RachelZader

“Conventional standards of beauty are king in the media. Young people typically fit that mold more readily than the middle-aged or elderly and attract eyeballs more readily. I think that’s probably why I gravitated toward the image of hands that had seen life and work. Again, I think of my grandmother’s hands, which are like driftwood now. To me, that’s more beautiful than anything,” Doug explained that the media often chooses to focus on the success stories that are most presentable.

#19

Image credits: MMChristensen

#20

Image credits: ravynsdaughter

#21

Image credits: PrincessFarhana

“Modern American life tells us we need to spend 40 years breaking ourselves in the pursuit of certain markers of success and then tells us we’re irrelevant after we’ve done exactly that,” Doug mused.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me and it runs counter to what healthy cultures do, which is to revere and celebrate their elders.”

#22

Image credits: zizzyballord

#23

Image credits: katho37

#24

Image credits: StephStricklen

Meanwhile, Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, told Bored Panda how to maintain a sharp mind as we age. It’s an important factor when we consider our goals and ambitions in life.

“Our own studies have shown important connections between positive mental wellbeing and keeping active, and having better thinking skills in later life. This is good news because our sense of mental wellbeing is something we can take steps to improve,” she went into detail.

#25

Image credits: _bebe_72

#26

Image credits: Rec_Schizophric

#27

Image credits: jameskorkie

“In the same way that avoiding things like smoking, excess alcohol or a poor diet can help to reduce the risk of developing some forms of dementia and cognitive decline, so can looking after our emotional wellbeing by managing stress, establishing meaningful connections with people, doing new activities or getting a good night’s sleep,” Caroline said.

#28

Image credits: gohexyourself

#29

Image credits: pyromanticism

#30

Image credits: annie_burchill_

“Staying active isn’t just about working up a sweat or running marathons, it can also be moving more each day at our own pace and in whatever way works. Being even modestly active helps give your wellbeing a boost and maintains bone strength, muscle strength, and coordination.”