Knowing that you failed at something is probably one of the worst feelings imaginable. Whether it be a relationship or a task at your school or work, the feeling of disappointment stings. You know you have no one to blame but yourself and there’s no changing it. It hurts the most if it’s something that you worked really hard for, sometimes hours or even years, only to have it blow up in you face. But there are benefits to having failed. Sometimes these advantages may not be clearly visible to you in the moment but here are some things to keep in mind when you do fail:
- Every failure is a learning experience. When you fail, you’re able to look at what happened and learn and grow from it. You can analyze what went wrong, what mistakes you made, and figure out how to succeed next time.
- It builds character. Maybe that breakup hurts a lot right now, but in 10 years when you’re settled down and happy with someone, you’ll be able to look back on your past failed relationships and talk about how they helped you grow as a person. Sometimes we have to be thankful for our failures because they helped us understand what we DIDN’T want.
- It helps you help others to succeed. When you fail at something, you learn from it. And you’re able to impart this wisdom to others in the same predicament as you were. Failed that quiz in your Molecular Biology class? At least you can tell all of your friends in the next period what to study for. Is your friend going through a problem at her job? You’re able to advise her and give her real, helpful advice to apply to her situation because of your past failures.
- It reminds you that you’re human. We are all flawed. Not one human on this earth has succeeded in everything they have attempted. That’s okay; we’re not perfect beings and we’re not meant to be.
- Failure makes you more focused on success. A wise sage named Chumbawumba once said, “I get knocked down but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.” Once you fail something in your life, it makes you even more determined to get it right the next time. And even though it might seem like the easiest way is to give up, stay focused and listen to “Tubthumping” again.
- Nothing worthwhile in life has ever come easy. Even things that you like doing, whether it be your job or being in a relationship, will have moments that are difficult. There will be times that you fail; you may lose a client or you and your partner get into a huge fight because of something you did. Whatever it may be, those failures push you to work harder and do better in the future.
- It makes success just that much sweeter. When things finally go right and everything’s comin’ up Millhouse, you’ll be so much more thankful for the success, having previously failed. When you work hard and refuse to give up, your victories will be even more powerful.
