Yep, it’s like that uninvited party guest who shows up wearing your grandmother’s curtains and proceeds to knock over the punch bowl. You’ve got it right, we’ve all got our own horror stories about the times we’ve failed, but here’s the kicker – it’s part of the package deal when you sign up for this rollercoaster ride called life.
I mean, if someone had handed me a memo on my first day saying “Hey, buddy, you’re gonna botch things up more times than a cat lands on its feet,” I would’ve saved myself from a fair share of sleepless nights and self-inflicted embarrassment contests.
It’s not the epic faceplant that’s the actual boogeyman, although let’s be honest here – it’s hardly a day at the beach. It’s the self-imposed Scarlet Letter that I used to stick onto myself like a misjudged tattoo that really did a number on me. I was like a one-man firing squad, always ready to pull the trigger at the slightest hint of failure.
But then, after some serious soul searching (and a few tubs of ice cream), I started seeing the light. I began to comprehend that the “Why did this not work out?” was not some question to torture myself with, but an opportunity for an “Aha! So that’s what I need to do differently!” moment.
And boy, did those moments make their appearances more often than I cared to count. But each one brought me closer to the realization that mistakes are the universe’s way of throwing us a learning curveball. It’s less of a knockout punch, and more of a chance to get back into the ring, stronger and wiser.
Now, am I hugging failure like a long-lost friend? No way. But am I reduced to a quivering mess at the thought of it? Not on your life.
I’ve learned to look it in the eye, give it a firm handshake, and say, “Bring it on. I’m ready to learn from you.”
How about you?
Are you at loggerheads with failure, or ready to dance with it?
