How Failure helps
- Failure prompts a reassessment of our existing model or worldview. Thomas Edison had 10,000 failures in his effort to invent the lightbulb. When questioned about this, his response was, “I have not failed 10,000 times – I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
- Failure helps us define our limitations and whether we can move beyond them. When we fail because we hit a limitation, we need to stop and reflect on whether that limit was self-imposed – and work to extend beyond it – or if we have reached the end of what we can do.
- Failure helps us empathize with others. I’ve learned over the years that failure has deepened my empathy for others, allowing me to connect with their struggles in more meaningful ways. Understanding what others go through gives us a greater capacity to speak into their struggles and help them find a way through.
- Failure can help us become more aware of our true destiny. Our successes and failures should guide us to a place where we are more aware than ever of our true purpose and guide us away from that which distracts us from it.
- Failure can help form alliances with those who demonstrate strengths in our areas of weakness. Once we recognize we cannot do everything, it is important to “staff our weaknesses.” This is not to make us dependent on others but rather interdependent.
- Failure is an opportunity to reflect on what, how, and why we went wrong. When trying to make sense of any scenario, don’t hesitate to use some or all of those “Six Honest Serving Men” (see Chapter 26) to help evaluate the situation.
- Failure can motivate us to reprioritize our lives. Failure has the power to inspire us to reassess our priorities, redirecting our focus toward what truly motivates and fulfills us with renewed determination.
