The Fives are connected to the Hierophant, who teaches us how to gain control over a situation in which we seem to have lost all control. In the Five of Wands, five young men battle with raised wands. They seem to be in conflict or competition. None is stronger or better equiped than the others. All want to win just as much as the next guy. How do we deal with the possibility of failure in such a situation? How do we make sure we don't lose our passion?

 

The answer is, that we can only try to give it our best shot. Even the biggest failure will beat the hell out of never trying. UCLA coach John Wooden says this in his TED talk:

 

Never try to be better than someone else, always learn from others. Never cease trying to be the best you can be -- that's under your control. If you get too engrossed and involved and concerned in regard to the things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you have control. Then I ran across this simple verse that said, "At God's footstool to confess, a poor soul knelt, and bowed his head. 'I failed!' He cried. The Master said, 'Thou didst thy best, that is success.'"

 

From those things, and one other perhaps, I coined my own definition of success, which is: peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you're capable. I believe that's true. If you make the effort to do the best of which you're capable, to try and improve the situation that exists for you, I think that's success. And I don't think others can judge that.

 

You and I know deeper down, there's always a chance to win the crown. But when we fail to give our best, we simply haven't met the test, of giving all and saving none until the game is really won; of showing what is meant by grit; of playing through when others quit; of playing through, not letting up. It's bearing down that wins the cup. Of dreaming there's a goal ahead; of hoping when our dreams are dead; of praying when our hopes have fled. Yet losing, not afraid to fall, if bravely we have given all. For who can ask more of a man than giving all within his span.

 

Reminds me of another set of threes that my dad tried to get across to us. Don't whine. Don't complain. Don't make excuses. Just get out there, and whatever you're doing, do it to the best of your ability. And no one can do more than that. I tried to get across, too, that -- my opponents don't tell you -- you never heard me mention winning. Never mention winning. My idea is that you can lose when you outscore somebody in a game. And you can win when you're outscored.

 

Play the game fair and square, and give it all you've got. Because even if you lose, you'll be secure in the knowledge that you wouldn't have want to do it any other way.