So, yeah, failure is the key to success. Yada-yada. I hate that statement, don’t you? Nevertheless, it’s true (dammit.) But wait, what about those stories of people for whom success came so easily? Have you read the follow-up accounts? Their success always seems to turn to misery. Why? Because…
Failure is the key to maturity (if we allow it to be). And maturity is the key to true success. As James said 2,000 years ago:
(Keith Haney posted this earlier. You can find him at https://revheadpin.org/author/revheadpin/)
Yes! If we don’t ever fail, we won’t gain wisdom, which ultimately leads to success.
Better than fail and learn is to learn from those who have already made the mistakes.
Good point. ☺
Yes, it collapses the timeline
What a perfectly timing for
Blerg! What a perfectly timed post, pal. I’m back up and running again now.
Yay! Welcome back, Roo.
Aw, thanks Mitch. I suspect you understand the need to work even when on vacation. <3
What we seek, is seeking us, said Rumi
Here in the high tech world we say, “Fail fast.” That is, when you’re failing, quickly admit it, change course and move on. and remember – never snatch defeat from the jaws of victory …
Yes!
Yeah, fail faster and fail forward 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Love the reminder! Thank you.
I heard an interesting story from a guy who had always gotten straight As in school and how when he got an A-, he truly freaked out and thought his life was now over. He still struggles with perfectionism. This post made me think of that.
J.K. Rowling gave a great commencement speech a few years back about the benefits of failure. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/06/text-of-j-k-rowling-speech/
I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Loved the quote about being a “will-be” rather than a “has-been!”
The other day I got a rejection letter from a major publisher. I braced myself for the blow, but for the first time in my writing career I felt nothing. Then I felt happy. Then I felt downright giddy, thinking that I may have finally grown past the emotional roller-coaster of emotions based on other people’s opinions. I don’t know if that would be defined as failure or success, but it feels like the latter.
Yes, I rather think it counts as success. At least I’m impressed!
Learn to accept no as the norm.So when yes comes along you will be really pleased….dare i say it…happy
Hey, this got three “likes!” 🙂
…oops…Dang.
4 likes i think digaty dang!
However you label it, it’s definitely personal progress.
true,true
This is something I’ve been trying to teach my children. Every successful person has suffered an incredible number of failures, but it was how they persisted through it that made the most impact.
Teach your children to learn from those who have aleady made the mistakes.
The saying “You learn from your mistakes”is purely from those who have made too many.
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You won’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” (Michael W. Smith?)
Like it!
That’s a good one. 😂
Very nice. Love the “never let failure get to your heart.”
Thank you, M.B.
Thank you for reminding me of the glory of failure. I needed that this morning. I bet it took a long time to find the cubes of succession to produce the interesting message of your first image. I admire the effort.
Thanks
John
I read the other day that what someone does in their free time really defines their level of success. Some sit around and watch TV, some read books.
True dat.
“Maturity is the key to true success.” Oh, that’s good truth, Mitch, especially joined with that verse from James. We need to broaden our definition of success, with “the acquisition of maturity” as the first listing in the dictionary!
We do indeed, Nancy.
I love this…all of it, but the best of the best imo is
“I’d rather be a will-be than a has-been, wouldn’t you?”
Yes, yes and yes!
and “never let success go to your head,
and never let failure get to your heart”
is now on my inspiration bulletin board, with a notation
of your url. Thank you for the wisdom and the wit.
Aw, thanks, as always, Sarah.
Super subject, Mitch. Another aspect is “fear of failure.” I believe the extreme form, which I suffer(ed) from, stems from a childhood environment where every failure results in rather severe parental ridicule and chastisement, in a misdirected attempt to promote “excellence.”
In high school, I feared rejection so extremely that I never asked a girl for a date until well into my junior year. And of course, I NEVER asked a highly “popular’ girl out even then—only “non-threatening,” girls.
I’m sure your experiences sound a familiar note for many, Vernon.
We learn more from failure than victory..
incredible post. Completely agree with all your points.
Create your own definition of success, never “settle”. https://themasonmindset.com/2018/09/04/your-definition-of-success-is-defined-by-you/
Great Post!
Thank you!
You are the key to success! You! Nice post!
I have similar content on my blog
Great post!!Here is the my definition of success.
https://myaspiringhope.wordpress.com/2018/12/27/success-what-is-your-definition/
I’ll check it out!
It took me years to learn that failure is healthy with the right attitude and success is toxic with the wrong one.
Yep. Those are lessons we’re predisposed not to want to learn.