We have all heard that failure is not an option. I would like to object. Failure is very much an option. It is, in fact, a crucial ingredient for success, and if you never fail you are missing out on some serious learning and growth. So here is why failure matters, and how to use it to your advantage.
First things first: what is failure? It is not the doom-and-gloom catastrophe it is often made out to be. It simply means you tried something and did not succeed. You attempted the fancy dance move and ended up on your tush instead. That is all. It does not have to be forever, and quite often it is the first step towards something much better.
So how exactly does failure lead to success? We have all been there: the sinking feeling of disappointment, the frustration, perhaps a smidge of humiliation. No one likes failing. But failure is the secret ingredient in the recipe for success, and like most secret ingredients, it tastes terrible on its own.
Failure teaches us what doesn’t work. It is a neon sign hanging over the exact area where we need to improve, which is rude but useful. Given a chance, it is a very good teacher. It shows us our weaknesses and then hands us the opportunity to make things right.
It also toughens us up. Think of the training montage in a superhero movie, minus the music. Every setback builds a little more resilience, so that the next one finds us better prepared and rather less surprised. So when life hands you a setback, it is not the end. It is a chance to level up, learn and grow.
Consider some famous people who stumbled before they soared. Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That number is not a typing error. Edison went through thousands of failed attempts while inventing the lightbulb, and he did not give up. His perseverance produced one of the most remarkable inventions in history, and a quote that has been comforting the rest of us ever since.
Then there is J.K. Rowling, the author behind Harry Potter. As a single mom on welfare, she struggled to make ends meet. She battled clinical depression and considered giving up on life. She did not abandon her dream of writing a book. Today, she is one of the most successful women authors ever.
So if you are feeling a bit down about your latest failure, remember that even the greatest achievers have tripped over their own shoelaces. The key is to keep going. With enough grit, you can do most things you set your mind to.
Now, how do you make failure work for you? Welcoming it sounds a bit odd, I know. But think about it: if you never fail, it means you are not taking any risks. And without risks, you can forget about reaching for the stars.
Instead of viewing failure as a sign of weakness, treat it as an opportunity to learn. When you stumble, take a breather. Reflect on what went wrong. Consider what you could have done differently. Then promise yourself that you will come back stronger next time, and get up off your tush.