
How Failure Can Help You Grow As A Person
The Concept Of Failure
I know you have heard this advice at some point in your life but I want to remind you.
Basically, this blog post is about failure and its effects on human performance. But although some of this advice is pretty well-known, it seems that responding to failure in a positive way is easier said than done (even when you know it’s benefits).
So I want to take the opportunity to remind you about the benefits of failure and how your potential for growth starts from your perspective on failure.
Are you ready to fail forward?
Disclaimer: I am kind of being selfish by writing this post because I wanted to remind myself too.
Don’t Avoid The Inevitable
Failure and setbacks are inevitable. They are a part of life and you can’t avoid them, no one can.
But when you encounter a difficult situation and you fail, don’t get hung up on this particular failure.
Although, sadness and anger are a reasonable short-term response to failure, don’t let failure consume you.
Don’t get hung up on your failures, instead change your perspective. All failures in life present an opportunity to grow, so don’t solely focus on the negative outcomes of a situation.
You should always make an active effort to turn a failure into a positive learning experience, no matter how large a failure may be.
So when you fail, don’t give up. You are better than that. Learn from it, adjust your approach and keep on going after your goals!
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. -Thomas A. Edison
How Do You Fail?
When we fail at something, we are vulnerable.
Every human being reacts to failure differently. But even though a failure may be humiliating or devastating, it doesn’t have to be debilitating.
Whether you fail an exam or lose a game, it isn’t the end of the world.
Life goes on, whether you win or lose. So don’t get stuck in a rut, “fail forward”. Don’t think of failure as a setback, think of it as momentum. There is no straight line to success and every successful person will tell you that everyone fails.
So emulate how successful people respond to failure. Fail in a more positive way, learn from it but don’t give up.
Always try to use failure as a learning experience. Whether you analyze the reason you failed or ask mentors how you can improve your skills. By using failure as a learning experience you will grow your skills and perform better the next time you are faced with a similar situation.
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently”. -Henry Ford
Failure Is A Part Of Success
Anyone who has been successful in their life has had to face adversity and overcome failure on their journey.
There is absolutely no “failure free” route to success. Every success or goal has a road of failure leading up to it (learning opportunities).
But you are in control of your own perspective, effort, and emotions. So choose to respond to failure in a positive way because it will change your life and mentality.
So next time you are faced with failure, be proactive and learn from the experience. That way you can use your learning experiences as tools to overcome difficult situations in the future.
“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure”. -Bill Gates
If you found this article helpful then you might like my blog post about overcoming obstacles called, “How To Overcome Your Deepest Fears“.