Motivation Information |
Nine Reasons To Embrace Failure
I've always heard that "public speaking" is the number one most common fear. According to a recent survey I conducted in my e-newsletter, however, this is not the case. Overwhelmingly my readership chose "failure." Like public speaking, failure is not inherently bad. We're conditioned to avoid it, but there are plenty of reasons to change our perspective. Here are nine advantages to failing: 1. Failure teaches us. Two words I will never misspell are "flexible" and "exchequer." Why? Because each word knocked me out of a junior high spelling bee. Failure creates an emotional experience, so the lessons we learn when it happens stick. Additionally, going through failure narrows down the possible approaches to success. Scientists rely on trial and error in their research. Each failed experiment brings them a little closer to revolutionary breakthroughs. Think of your own efforts as experiments. When you don't get the desired result, figure out why. Then try again with your new knowledge. 2. Failure reveals our ability. You'll never know how much weight you can lift until you reach an amount you can't. Trainers often refer to this as "lifting to failure." Pushing yourself as far as you can lets you know what's possible. By avoiding limits, you'll never reach your peak. The fear of failure stops us a lot shorter than failure itself. So keep going until nothing more is possible. Then celebrate what you've accomplished. 3. Failure makes us stronger. Those same weight lifters who lift to failure also have learned that is the way they build muscle. At first the tissue is damaged, but it'll heal bigger and stronger than before. Soon the athlete will be able to lift more weight. The same is true for our pursuits. Failure strengthens our character. We humans bounce higher than we fall. Know that with each effort, you grow a little stronger. 4. Failure inspires us. When we don't let discouragement hold us back, failure makes our desire burn hotter. Often this inspiration is a wish to avoid another failure. Many people don't know that Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. "It was good because it made me know what disappointment felt like," he told the Chicago Tribune. "And I knew that I didn't want to have that feeling ever again." This led to a work ethic that would elevate him to legendary status. If failure makes you work harder or focus more, it's an experience with tremendous value. 5. Failure inspires others. Leaders must take risks. Even when they don't succeed, their courage can still make a difference. In 1980, 18-year-old Terry Fox attempted to raise $1 million for cancer research by running across the entire length of Canada on a prosthetic leg. He ran 3339 miles before a relapsed cancer ended his quest. He lost his life, but his effort has inspired over $340 million in donations to date. His "failure" was hardly in vain. 6. Failure builds courage. Becoming more comfortable with failing enables you to take more risks. If you know you can stomach it, it will no longer threaten you. I used to take groups through ropes courses, requiring them to pursue physical challenges thirty feet off the ground. Often participants would fail at the first high event. While some got discouraged, others discovered that failing wasn't so bad. They were proud for having tried in the first place. Knowing that failure was an option made it easier for them to try the next event. Their courage came not from achieving success, but from their willingness to pursue to it. If you're open to failing, you'll readily take more chances. 7. Failure is better than regret. The times I've been denied an opportunity never felt as bad as when I've let opportunities pass me by. At least when we fail, we know. Not trying at all leaves us wondering. Avoid kicking yourself later by taking a leap today. 8. Failure leaves us open to better opportunities. I was once turned down for a job for which I thought I was the perfect candidate. While unemployment can be scary, rejection can be humiliating. After a few weeks of frustration, I was offered another position I hadn't pursued. This opportunity was more interesting and considerably more lucrative. Without an awareness of the big picture, it's easy to perceive failure as misfortune. Maybe it's nature's way of making sure we wind up where we're best suited. 9. Failure makes success a little sweeter. We appreciate victory more when we've tasted defeat. Life wouldn't be fun if things always worked out. Know that your failure is just part of the game we're all playing. We expend a lot of energy running from failure. Try embracing it. Find the opportunity in the adversity. If there's a recipe for success, failure might be its primary ingredient. Motivational speaker Scott Greenberg gives live presentations and workshops all over America. To contact Scott as a resource for future articles and for more information on his programs or leadership books, email press@scottgreenberg.com, call 1-800-450-0432 or visit www.scottgreenberg.com.
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
We Are Trying To How many times have you heard this in your life? Perhaps you have said it yourself. We are trying to accomplish something here. Tips To Get Motivated and Overcome Procrastination Procrastination is a complicated behavior that affects all people to some degree. Some experience only small problems with procrastination while with others, it is a major source of anxiety and stress. Dont Be Afraid To Build The Dream Don't be afraid to build the dream - Attempting to live our life by our own design is certainly no small feat. Often it means doing without in the short term. Life Doesnt Have A Sell By Date Or does it?Best on or before?.. Self Confidence : The Importance of Will-Power The importance of will-power is recognized by most men, yet few deliberately give any time or thought to its development. Why we resist one thing and yield to another may be due to "the strongest motive," but what more particularly concerns us in the study of self-confidence is in what way this mighty power can be built and directed. Beyond Procrastination - 8 Questions To Ask Yourself Why am I constantly putting things off? Why don't I do the things I'm "supposed" to do, but don't really want to? Why do I always seem to be forcing myself to do things? Whether it's chores at home, work for school, or projects at work, how do I get beyond procrastination? Most often, something is operating "underneath" the procrastination. Asking yourself these nine questions and spending some conscious time reflecting on your responses can help you uncover why you are resisting doing what needs to be done and support you to move beyond procrastination. How to Get Up on a Down Day One of the major obstacles to achieving goals is losing the motivation necessary to finish them. Many times the initial surge of energy is lost after the reality of hard work or set backs sets in. Why Bother About Your Life? Have you failed to create the life you want, because you are afraid to take risks or leave your comfort zone?Have you turned down an important opportunity because you were nervous and thus failed to adequately prepare?Are you paralyzed with fear at the thought of launching out to start that business you have always dreamed of?Are you still doing the same old things you hate so much because you are afraid to work hard at doing what it takes to succeed?If you are wondering whether it is worth the hassle to go the extra mile to create the life you want;The following ten reasons will encourage you and remind you why you must bother about your life, career, or undertakings.You bother because:1. Choosing Your Vision There is a new television show, called Blind Justice that will be replacing NYPD Blue. The show follows a Detective who, at the prime of his life and career, loses his vision in a heroic attempt to thwart a bank robbery and save other police lives. Todays Trivia I received an email today that said I could: "Make 500-10k from your living room," which I find to be an amazing claim, seeing as how I'm here, in my living room, making whatever hourly rate it is I charge for whatever it is I'm doing at this moment, and yet the living room itself is of no help in this regard. I could be making money in another room altogether. This Emotion Is As Helpful As Ali-Baba And His Forty Thieves! Are you afraid of your own best ideas? Do you ever have that cold chill run up your spine just about the time you feel you're ready to take hold of that golden opportunity that comes once in a lifetime? Well guess what? I been there, done that, and won the T-Shirt. You Too?? Hmmm. Realistic Dreams The wish to have or be something, especially one that seems difficult to achieve is an innate desire in every one of us. The quest of all mankind, whether it is admitted or not, is for a life of significance. Success -- The Key and the Fire Self-discipline is a powerful tool that can help you accomplish about anything you can dream or imagine. Self-discipline is the act of controlling our emotions, actions, thoughts, words and personal direction. Hurry Up And Procrastinate I've been meaning to write this column, but I keep putting it off. There always seems to be something better or more important or easier to write about. People Who Get What They Want: What Are They Thinking? Imagine being able to choose any outcome and automaticallyfeel motivated to make it happen.No matter what's standing in your way, you'd be so driven that you would blow right past it. 2 Simple Ways To Cure Procrastination Curing procrastination is not necessarily about will power or forcefully advancing in your goals but rather it is about learning why we procrastinate, what we are afraid of and finding ways to face those fears in order to move forward in our lives.What are you afraid of?1. Explanations?... or Excuses? Which of the following "explanations" have you heard (or used!) in the past few weeks?* I need to reward myself for being so good.* The boss hates me. Instant Willpower We've all heard people say "I have a system". Ever since I was a little girl and watched my mother put together a grocery list, I've known -- and used -- the power of systems. Change 101: How to Get the Changes You Desire Here's a bold statement:Change can be simple and easy.It really does not have to be so hard, although sometimes we make it much harder than it needs to be. How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit - Part II A friend of mine read the article, How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit, and dryly made the comment, "So what?"At first it didn't concern me, but a few days later I began thinking about his comment. I had obviously not made the point clear, and therefore I decided to expand on this concept. |
home | site map | contact us |