Failure. When you hear the word, it kind of burns your ears. You think about all the things you haven't done right in your life, whether it be failing a test or not getting a job. But what if I told you failure is not necessarily a bad thing?

Imagine a life where everything goes your way: you get into your dream school, graduate as valedictorian, get the dream job, marry your high school sweetheart and live an overall happy life. That all sounds great, but when do you learn about all the hardships in life?

Each failure comes with a lesson that teaches you something about yourself. If you don't get that job the first time around, learn what you need to do. Maybe you didn't research the company enough or someone just knew a little bit more than you did.

That test may have seemed easy when looking at the study guide, but that does not matter if the professor does not follow it. Everyone else was prepared, so maybe that extra hour of studying could have done you good.

Whatever might be in front of you, failure helps you learn more about yourself every time it happens. These lessons are what helps prepare you for that dream job, whether you get it in 5 days, 5 months or 5 years.

This does not only apply to work and school, but it also applies to relationships. You may think that person is "the one," but sometimes it does not work out the way you planned it. Whether it be timing or just purely not the right match, it teaches you a lot about how you want to be loved and how you want to be treated in a relationship.

No matter what the "failure" may be, understand that it is not necessarily a bad thing. Every time something does not work out the way you planned it, something even better is coming your way. Take it for what it is, learn from it and come back even better than before. In a matter of time, the dream job, perfect house and wonderful relationship will be all yours.