Failing Forward: Lessons I Have Learnt From Failing

As a child, I hated to fail or make mistakes. I think it stemmed from growing up to see many of my older cousins make mistakes. For me, failures or mistakes were not allowed. There was nothing more embarrassing or disgusting than failing at something or making mistakes. But now, in my middle 20s and having my fair share of mistakes and failures, I understand that my cousins were just on their journey of self discovery. 

Here is the gist! Personally, I hate mediocrity. So, I would not say that failing at everything or not planning effectively for your goals is all part of self improvement or discovery. That is a lie. If you plan effectively or are careful in your dealings, there are higher chances of not failing or making mistakes as those who live carelessly or do not take appropriate steps and responsibilities, as it relates to their plans and goals. 

Although, the irony of life is that great planners, achievers, and thinkers also fail or commit errors. There is no great person who has lived or is still living that has not felt like a failure or made mistakes at one phase in their lives. It is just a way of life. However, what differentiates these set of people from the rest of the failure-prone crowd is how they chose to respond and learn from these phases. 

This has definitely changed my perspective on failing. Now, when I fail or make errors, instead of being too hard on myself, I always try to pinpoint lesson that can be learnt from these setbacks, thus making the process worthwhile. 

The first lesson I learnt from failure is that it is not a permanent thing. Failure today does not mean that you will fail tomorrow. That you failed today shows that you are indeed on a journey and there is still a lot of room for improvement as you thread through.

Another lesson I learnt is that your failures do not and will not define you. It took a while for me to understand this one. But I am glad I finally do. Being a failure and failing are two separate concepts. Failing does not mean you are a failure. The problem is with identifying as a failure. Once you identify as one, you immediately set yourself up for failure. Hence, no matter how many times you fail or make mistakes, never accept that you are one.

Also, choosing to respond positively to mistakes is a good place to start growing. As growth happens when you learn to get back up and try again, no matter how many times you fall. Rather than find fault or complain, try again. And if you do not succeed, keep trying until you do.

Finally, note that, failures and mistakes are channels used to birth triumphs or successes. Take Thomas Edison for instance, if he did not fail as much as he did, I am not sure he would have arrived at the best possible way to invent the light bulb.