How To Use Failure As A Learning Experience

Never say, "oops." Always say, "Ah, interesting." - Author Unknown

So many of us fear failure because we take it as a personal reflection of our own worth and capability in life. We think that if we didn’t do well at one thing it must mean that we will never be good at it, or anything else we try.

We think it means that we’re less of a person or we’re destined for a life of mediocrity. Even worse is when a failed attempt seems to reinforce the limiting messages we’ve been fed by others in our lives. “Mom always said I wasn’t the lucky type; I guess she was right . . .”

Nothing could be further from the truth! Failure at anything simply means that we now have a wonderful learning opportunity in the palm of our hand. We tried one way, and it didn’t work. That just means we need to find another way – or retry the first way (depending upon the situation).

It could mean that we didn’t give our full effort because we weren’t feeling too confident about our ability to succeed, or it could mean that we need to try several times until we really master the activity. It could even mean that circumstances weren’t right and the timing was off, but if we try again it might work like a charm next time.

DON’T let failure hold you back from trying something new! In fact, look forward to failure because it will teach you a lot about yourself and your resiliency. When something doesn’t go as planned, look at it objectively and ask why.

Did you do something you shouldn’t have? Did you not do something you could have? Did you approach the goal from a less than favorable angle? Could you try again from a better angle, or with a different mind-set, or using different action steps? You are bound to achieve favorable results if you keep working at it.

If you stop working at it and don’t learn anything from the experience, THAT’S what you call failure.

Success May Be Hard Work, But So Is Failure!

Some people dream of success . . . while others wake up and work hard at it. - Author Unknown

Just like every action has a consequence, inaction also brings about its own consequences. It may seem easier not to work on your goals and dreams and instead spend most of your time griping about your hard luck and envying those who seem to have it so easy.

You may think you’re taking the path of least resistance as you seek shortcuts and avoid taking big risks, but everything you fail to do now comes back to bite you later. What you fail to realize is that you are working equally hard at failure as you would at success!

Think about that: with everything you do (or don’t do) you are contributing your energy to it. Either you give it your effort, or you give it your resistance. A little piece of you goes into everything you do. Think of it as an energy investment.

If you consistently try to avoid the things that seem too difficult or scary – that’s the type of energy you’re putting into the results you get: resistance and non-commitment. If you refuse to put your energy into success, you are inevitably putting it into failure.

Let’s face it, it takes a lot of hard work to keep resisting taking the actions you want to take, and coming up with excuses for why you’re not doing what you want to do. You’ve got to keep searching for things outside yourself to blame for your lack of progress, and you’ve got to spend a lot of time and energy convincing others that you’re a victim of circumstances.

Wouldn’t it be simpler to just DO what you want to do? Wouldn’t it be easier to let go of excuses, put your head down, roll up your sleeves and do the work that will get you to where you want to go?

It may seem scarier to do it that way, but it sure will end up being less aggravation in the end. At least you won’t have to deal with lackluster results and negative consequences that are born from not working toward what you want.

Understand that you are already putting your energy toward something; why not put it toward what you really want? It may seem to be harder work than avoidance at first, but it’s certainly more gratifying in the end.