davidji's Blog

davidji's Blog

Looking at Failure through a New Lens

Welcome to another edition of The Source!!! The concept of success gets all the limelight, but exploring our lives through the concept of failure can be just as inspirational… if you look at it through a new lens.

These are a few of my favorite quotes about failure. Which one resonates most with you, and why?

Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life. ―J.K. Rowling

The phoenix must burn to emerge. ―Janet Fitch

I was never afraid of failure; for I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest. ―John Keats

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. ―Thomas A. Edison

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. ―Winston S. Churchill

There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure. ―Paulo Coelho

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. ―Theodore Roosevelt

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. ―Robert F. Kennedy

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat. ―F. Scott Fitzgerald

Failure is only the opportunity more intelligently to begin again. ―Henry Ford

If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment. ―Henry David Thoreau

It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts. ―Zig Ziglar

Failure is a powerful lens through which we can reflect, learn and set a new trajectory. We begin failing at lots of things very early in our lives and on a regular basis throughout our journey on this Earth: when we take our first step and fall, when we learn to ride a bike and crash, when our first romantic relationship ends, when we bomb an important test… the list goes on and on. And although many of these failures cause us pain, anguish or anxiety, we persevere… we stand back up, we get back on, we learn and then we continue on to bigger and better things.

Extraordinary people use failure as a catalyst to grow, and if you’re not failing sometimes, you might not be pushing yourself to become your best version. So this week, reflect on a recent failure… it can be giant or small… but none is insignificant!!! Ask yourself reflective questions about this failure. Here are some examples:

  • What is my most recent failure?
  • How did it affect me or others?
  • What feelings have come from this?
  • What is the most likely reason I failed?
  • What is the outcome I wanted?
  • Do I still want this outcome?
  • What are three things I’m going to do to begin again?

Now use your answers to create a new trajectory. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Keep meditating, and I’ll see you in the gap!!! peace. -d

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