When we experience failure our confidence and self-esteem decrease; demotivating us to try something new and see it as a step backwards. Failure can prevent us from developing ourselves, gaining new skills, or advancing in our careers. The fear of failure is something that we are taught when we are young. We tend to see failure in a negative light however, failure should be seen in a positive light.

What is Failure?

We have experienced failure and many of us define failure differently depending on experience. The basic understanding of failure is defined as the inability to meet an expectation. When experiencing failure we feel the following:

• The Habit of Giving Up Easily – When you are trying something new and you encounter a tough time to achieve success. It is easy to give up rather than go through the stress and pain.

• Fear of Failure – When you start to experience failure you start to remember past failures as a source of rejection and frustration causing us to think we will be unsuccessful.

• Lack of Self-Worth – Begin to think we are no longer worthy enough for anything or anyone.

• Negative Mind – Thinking that it's impossible to achieve our objective and we will be unsuccessful.

• Not Valuing the Opportunity – When we live in the past or dream of the future without doing anything. Failure will be our enemy.

• Lack of Self-Confidence – Negative thoughts in our mind can cause us to think we are not worthy enough and the whole universe will turn in the direction of failure.

Why Failure is Important?

Experience

Whenever we fail we will go through the emotions, but walk away with a deeper understanding of life. The experience of failure can give us invaluable lessons and can alter our frame of mind, transform, and improve our future.

Resilience

The more we fail, the more resilient we become. If we think that we are going to succeed on the first try we will set ourselves for far more painful failure. Resilience will set us with expectations that true success will take an enormous amount of work and effort.

Knowledge

Failure brings first-hand knowledge that can be harnessed in the future to overcome barriers and bring success.  

Growth

Failure allows us to grow and mature as human beings and reach a deeper understanding of our lives. Failure allows us to reflect and take things into perspective and develop meaning from painful situations for us to grow further.

Motivation

Failures can be motivations to continue refining your skills and learn valuable and important lessons from failure.

Summary  

Although failure is scary and seen in a negative light preventing us from progressing in our careers, learning a new skill, or experiencing new things. We should see failure as a learning and development opportunity. Failure can give us life lessons, experiences, knowledge, and resilience that can alter our frame of mind and improve our character.