Don’t Fear Failure!

I know this is a hard topic for most people. Just the thought of failure brings up feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and lack of self-confidence. But, the reality is that everything that we have ever achieved in our lives came from failure. It’s very rare that anybody is successful on the first attempt. That’s just how it goes. Let me give some examples.

When we were babies, we had to have everything done for us. We’re fed, burped, bathed, dressed, and etc. But, one of the very first things we learned to do was raise our head. Was it easy? No! Have you watched a baby struggle with raising its head when laid on its stomach? I know that I have. It’s hard to watch at times. Do they do it on the first attempt? No! But, it’s their determination to do it that eventually leads them to successfully accomplishing it. It’s no different than learning how to talk, walk, or ride a bike. We learn through a series of failures to eventually succeed at whatever it is that we want to do.

Another example is cooking. I know that when I first learned how to cook, I had the fear that I wouldn’t cook it right or burned it. That fear led to those exact things. I was undercooking or overcooking food. You know it’s bad when you overcook Top Ramen! LOL! But, it was through trial and error that I found the right way to cook. Now, I do it without thinking. I’m on autopilot. It’s funny how I can have 3 things cooking at the same time without batting an eye.

What does all this have to do with the fear of failure? A lot! For most of us, the fear of failure has kept us from achieving success in all areas in our lives. This includes everything from relationships to business to spirituality. Why? It’s easier to give up rather than to keep trying. That’s pretty much the short and skinny! We, as people as a whole, have become lazy. We are complacent with what we have instead of truly going for what we want. Sure it’s going to be challenging. But, nothing in life worth having comes easy! We have to put in personal equity in it! Some would say blood, sweat, and tears. However you want to put it, it takes determination and persistence to achieve any success in anything!

So, know that failure is not the end. Know that it’s just a part of the process that we all go through to accomplish something. Some things will be easier to some than others. But, once again, that is just the way it is. But, everybody can be successful at whatever it is they want if they choose to keep going rather to quit at the first, second, or third failure. Failures are the building block and foundation to success. Nothing solid can be built without it! Absolutely nothing! Accept it! Embrace it! And, go for it! You can do it!