The Truth about Failure

I don’t like being associated with failure. Someone said this to me recently. He was in the midst of a challenge, in which the outcome was uncertain or, more to the point, the outcome was not looking like it was going to line up with his view of success.

I’d like to propose that failure doesn’t truly exist. It is not a condition of “being” or result of experience, but simply a judgment of the mind; a negative response to a perceived or desired outcome.

Every experience is a small (or large) journey, which takes us from one moment in life to another moment in life. What happens in between are a series of “opportunities” to grow, learn, evaluate, change, open a door, close a door, expand, and understand. The experience may seem to end completely but actually segues into another that is related in some way … because this is the journey of Life. The outcome of one experience is merely the transition that helps us choose the next experience. So, how can any outcome be a failure?

Failure exists only when we choose to name it so. And if we attach to it an emotion, such as disappointment or sadness, we compromise our learning and the power to move forward in an optimistic way.

Am I saying that we should look for the silver lining in every experience? Absolutely!

When we courageously focus on the good, find the positive, choose to learn from our challenges, AND then act upon what we have discovered, we are creating an environment in our minds and hearts that supports real and lasting, constructive change for ourselves and the world around us. There is no failure when we do this.

And that’s the truth.

Blessings,   Plynn