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Health and Wellness

Why It's Okay To Fail

With every disappointment we face, there is an opportunity to grow.

Lauren Halversen

Apr 25, 2016

Brigham Young University

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A friend of mine recently asked me: “If you worked really hard at something, but despite all of the effort you put into it, you still didn’t get the result you wanted- what would that mean to you?”

The question took me back a little bit. What would it mean to fail after giving everything- your own self even- in the process?

Failure is a scary thing. It brings us discouragement when we have to face reality that we didn’t make the cut. It feeds the dark insecurities that lie deep within us as we admit that we did not succeed this time around. It reopens an abyss within our souls that we try to cover with our accomplishments by forcing us to recognize that we couldn’t reach what we were striving for. Failure tends to have the nasty effect on our minds that focuses our thoughts on the negative in everything.

Despite how hard we work, how hard we attempt to achieve what we perceive to be perfection, failure will happen. It is pretty much guaranteed to happen to everyone.

However, another thing that is guaranteed in this life is the opportunity to grow. Each and everything that we experience in our lives is a chance to decide how we will take the next step forward. These are opportunities to take a chance when we may not understand everything in the moment, but still choose to push forward in faith that what is happening will be the best for us in the end.

Included in this are the disappointments and failures we face. God’s intentions are never for us to stop growing in our lives. While we find it easy to keep on moving forward when things are going ‘right’ and free of bumps in the road, how are supposed to learn without facing opposition in our lives? He created us so that we can grow and become better today than we were yesterday. It is impossible to know how amazing it feels to know that you are striving to improve without know the heartache of stumbling on the path. For us to know incredible joy, we must also feel sadness and pain. Feelings of disappointment when we fail are no exception to that. The love Christ has for us is so perfect and amazing that He wants us to grow in what we face in our lives.

With the failures we experience, we have chances to choose to become better. Know that this is an opportunity to grow and Christ will help you find the way. Look to Him in each step and through your faith, light will overcome darkness, the abyss inside is filled with hope, and you will know of His love for you.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Why It's Okay To Fail

With every disappointment we face, there is an opportunity to grow.

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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