‘Failure Is Success in Progress’

Almost every day, you unconsciously allow a simple seven-letter word to dictate your thoughts, your actions, your emotions, your self-esteem and your perspective.

Seven letters: F-A-I-L-U-R-E. 

All too easily, you give it control over your desires to pursue your dreams. You allow it to limit you — despite the knowledge of your own potential. You often use it as an excuse to give up and stop fighting for that which is of most importance.

Acting as if it were an epidemic, failure has plagued society for many years — causing much destruction. Still, you continue to allow yourself to fall victim to its undesirable effects. Why are you giving just seven letters so much control in your life?

Sound Familiar?

If “calling you out” on these behaviors has given you reason to believe that you are failing, then I have won. You have allowed me to make you feel like you are less than what you are. When it is not used as a motivation, a fuel, or a reason to try harder, failure will undoubtedly lead you to the same results.

If you are guilty of any of these mindsets or behaviors, there is reassurance in the fact that you are not alone. Even some of the most well-known names in history fought these same battles:

• Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times.
• Bill Gates was a Harvard drop-out.
• Milton Hershey failed three times in his candy-related ventures.
• Walt Disney was fired for his “lack of creativity.”

Abe Lincoln, who was defeated in his run for president in 1856, said this: 

“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

It is inevitable that each of us will experience failures. But no matter what capacity we may be in when we fail, our willingness to allow failure to motivate and develop us could impact the rest of our lives for the better.

To never be content with failure means new opportunities for growth, new learning experiences, and a new and forever-changed perspective. Though overcoming the effects of failure may be difficult, it is also essential to our personal progression. In order to achieve this goal, we can follow The Positivity Blog’s advice below.

1. Accept How You Feel.

• Allow yourself the time to understand and accept how you feel. Otherwise, you are creating an opportunity for these feelings to reappear in later and unexpected circumstances.

2. Be Constructive.

• What’s one thing I can learn from this?
• How can I adjust my course to avoid making the same mistake?
• What’s one thing I can do differently next time?

3. Take Action Promptly.

• When experiencing failure, devise a new plan and act on it quickly. Don’t allow yourself the time to procrastinate, as this will feed your fear of new failure. 

4. Understand that Value Equals Failure. 

• That which is of most value and importance in life is never obtained without a history of failure. 

Proof of this advice exists in the Camden Yards in Baltimore, where the Babe Ruth Museum stands. The advice proves itself within homes, offices, and businesses across the country, where Microsoft programs, developed by Bill Gates, are being utilized each day. It is obvious each time you bite into the classic Hershey’s bar or experience the magic of a Walt Disney theme park. Each one of these would be nonexistent without hardships, trial — and yes, even failure. 

As you seek to conquer each new day, I strongly encourage you to remember that failure is okay! However, being content with your failure is not. Make a commitment to yourself today to allow failure to fuel you, motivate you and drive you to be your very best. After all, failure may just lead you to your greatest accomplishments.

“Failure is success in progress.” – Albert Einstein

– by Hailee Eyre (18) Cedar City/Panguitch

Feature image caption: Albert Einstein said that failure was just a success still in progress. Follow his example, and we might get somewhere. Courtesy Flickr.

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