It's Okay to Fail

Okay, so I lied in the title. I don’t believe in failure. I believe that we all make mistakes, but I also believe that we can learn from them. In this post, I will outline how I perceive “failure” or mistakes and how best to move forward afterward.

What does it really mean to fail at something? It usually comes down to the outcome not being what we expected, wanted, or wished for. We often look back on these mistakes with regret.

I’m here to tell you that all of your mistakes, all of your “failures”, are exactly why you are the person you are today. If we were to erase all of our “failures” or mistakes, we would also be erasing all of our wisdom, growth, and learning.

Having a business close, a relationship end, a job loss, or dropping out of school, etc. does not mean you are less worthy as a person. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that you learned at least one thing from that experience. Learning and growing are the biggest benefits of “failure” or making a mistake. If we never mess up, or if everything we do is successful, how are we supposed to learn how to evolve, innovate, and grow?

Nothing in this world lasts forever. That includes our endeavors. By practicing the art of impermanence, we learn to practice the skill of non-attachment to outcomes and instead learn to trust and enjoy the process of doing.

No outcome is certain. But by enjoying the process of doing, we more fully enjoy our lives.

People rarely make huge achievements on the first try. Trial and error are the keys to success. By letting go of our fear of failure, we empower ourselves to live our lives more courageously, trust the process of doing, and learn and grow every step of the way.

If you want to unpack or process any past mistakes or “failures” you’ve had in your life, just know I’m ready and willing to do that with you. Feel free to schedule a therapy appointment today to free yourself from failure and embrace the learning, lessons, and growth that encompass what it means to be human.