“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina.” – Angela Duckworth
You will experience failures in your life. When it happens, don’t beat yourself up.
If a decision carries the risk of catastrophic consequences—life or health threatening—make sure you have all the safety nets in place.
But outside of such situations, I share the same view as Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, who wrote:
“If you aren’t experiencing failure, then you are making a mistake. You are being too cautious… Failure isn’t a necessary evil. In fact, it isn’t evil at all. It is a necessary consequence of doing something new.”
Don’t spend your life trying to avoid failure. Instead, live in a way that drives your deepest ambitions forward. We often resent failure because it’s wrapped in fear. That fear of what might go wrong stops us from taking on the challenges that really matter and living our authentic lives.
Face your fear, but don’t live in it. It’s only there to remind you that there’s something important to think through. Acknowledge it, then let it go. Courage and strength are not the absence of fear, but the resolve to keep going with the things that matter.
Your approach to life stems from your mindset. As Carol Dweck wrote:
“If success means they’re smart, then failure means they’re dumb. That’s the fixed mindset… In the fixed mindset, everything is about the outcome. If you fail—or if you’re not the best—it’s all been wasted.”
Instead, be intentional about building a growth mindset—one characterized by Dweck as:
“…to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning.”
Lifelong learning and failure go hand in hand. Enter the arena that calls to you and give it your all. Dismiss the critics standing outside as noise. Commit to the challenges that resonate deeply with your soul.
Develop a resilient mindset. Fall seven times, stand up eight.