Being young, I always thought that every time I failed, I was a failure, but I was wrong. Failing once, twice, even a few times, does NOT make you a failure. It makes you human. Welcome to the world.

Society will try to dog you for every mistake you make, but they don’t know your heart or the effort you put into something. If you gave whatever it was your best effort, then no one can tell you any different. No one will always be able to do everything perfectly.

I’m someone who walks through life with confidence. I never meet a stranger because I just genuinely love getting to know people. I have always been pretty outgoing and independent. I’ve never really been SCARED of anything… except failure.

I never want someone to be disappointed in me. I always want people, especially family, to be proud of me and to even brag on me every now and then. I like when people recognize the good things I do and see what I accomplish.

I have a pride issue.

I can’t stand being wrong and I always want to be the one leading a team. I like to run things my way and get tasks done the day they are assigned. I don’t like piddling around. But I’m working on it.

I have learned in the last 6 months of my life that you ARE going to mess up and make a few mistakes. People will be disappointed in you. They may even be angry at your decisions.

You’re going to fail.

But guess what? It’s going to be okay. Life is not easy and you are not perfect. Don’t be scared to mess up because then you’ll never takes chances. Failing does not make you weak. It’s all in the way you recover. When you are knocked down, you HAVE to get back up.

In the midst of my failure, I have come to grow closer to God. I have prayed and prayed that I would stop failing, but I’ve come to understand that I first need to pray about everything I do and consult Him in all of my decisions. I have to honor Him in all of the blessings he places on me.

I am learning how to take my failures and turn them into lessons. I have learned that I am going to be okay. I have learned to praise Jesus during the rough patches and not just in the victories. I have experienced his grace. Mercy triumphs over judgement.

I have started to take care of MYSELF mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I cannot please everyone, and I know that now. I get up every time I’m down, and I keep going.

If you stay down after you fall, you’ll never experience the rest of the journey. Our plans are not always what’s best, and once we set our pride aside, we will see that the bigger picture is always more beautiful than one piece.

Failing does NOT… make you a failure.