We grow up often hearing that if we have not succeeded, we have failed. This conditioning not only builds sub-conscious fear, we often restrict the free flow of the best in us, for ‘fear of failing’. When we take a step back and reflect on what failure means to us, we may well reset and unleash a part of us waiting to be expressed, but being held back without us even realising it.
Every scientist when applauded for breakthrough discoveries will happily share the string of failures in the laboratory that finally led to the conclusive positive outcome she was searching for. When things don’t work out we don’t fail, we learn.
Often the path is longer than we had expected and the course is not as much a straight line as we would have wanted. The ups and downs of life not only teach us out there but give us an opportunity to strengthen ourselves within, building us internally as we build out externally. When things are not going our way we don’t fail, we build resilience, determination and optimism.
Sometimes when things come too easily in life, it may also not be a very good thing for us if we are not careful. It doesn’t mean that we reject something coming our way seamlessly, we just need to be mindful that often when things take time, it may well be good for us. Delayed gratification builds our gratitude and humility.
One of my most inspiring stories is about a man who failed in business, got defeated in an election, had a nervous breakdown, defeated when stood for Congress, defeated when he stood for the Senate, defeated when he stood for Vice-President, once again defeated for Senate, and went on to become the President of the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln was no failure.
Life is a series of experiences, each coming for a purpose to help us grow. If things don’t work out, we need to remind ourselves, we haven’t failed, life is teaching us and showing us a better way. We only fail when we give up within, quit and stop trying.
(Picture -Butterfly park in Penang)
Great lesson: Keep failing if you want to end of the president of the United States!!!