Failure. That's a word that most people don't like to hear. Now, don't get me wrong, nobody wants to actually be a failure, but what about OUR failures? Our own personal shortcomings. What happens when we put forth our best effort; it still isn't good enough, and we fail?
Things usually go one of two ways.
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Way One:
You fail. What a lovely feeling it is to fail. If you're a Way One kind of person,(much like myself until recently) here's what usually happens. You shut down and fixate on that one mistake. You let that mistake fester inside of you until you can no longer bare it and have a (usually humiliating) breakdown. You're left feeling worse than before and with an irrational fear of failing.
Now, that's not the healthiest way to cope with failure, but let's be honest. We all have that one moment we can think of and feel embarrassed or even angry. Sometimes we as humans make mistakes, yet somehow we seem to get through those same mistakes and learn from them.
That brings us to...
Way Two:
You fail. Oh, the joys of feeling inadequate. Now, unlike our Way One friends, something different happens. You don't shut down. You don't fixate, and you certainly don't have a humiliating breakdown. You take your failure and learn from it. You don't let one failure define who you are as an individual, and you see that exact same failure as an opportunity. An opportunity to better yourself and also help others through your own experience.
Everyone wants to be successful. Whether it be in their career, school or personal life, but success doesn't just happen. There's usually some form of trial and error, and with error comes failure. Failure that can cripple you or make you stronger. Make the choice to let it strengthen you. Don't be afraid to fail; because in that failure you will gain more wisdom than you ever could have by being granted immediate success.
Take every mistake, every poor choice, and every failure captive. Make it something beautiful that transforms you and something powerful that enlightens others.
