What is it about failing that feels so hard?
Is it perfectionist syndrome?
Has our society become so risk averse we’re all afraid of looking stupid? Inadequate?
Because this fear of failure, is pervasive!
Students unwilling to raise their hands lest they appear ignorant.
Employees afraid to ask for help, concerned they’ll look incompetent.
When I find myself stymied by the fear of failure, I always go worst case scenario.
Here's what I say, "if this all goes south, what’s the worst thing that can happen?"
I look stupid.
People will laugh
I’ll get vilified on social media
I’ll lose my job
Once I walk through as many negative outcomes as I can think of, and, even if I don’t love, relish OR want any of them to happen, I move ahead.
How about you?
What would it take for you to be willing to fail?
Because failing really works.
It's a Great Teacher
Are you the kind of person who remembers that spelling word BECAUSE it’s the only one you got wrong? Yes? Then you know the power of failure.
Failure Helps Build Resilience
You know that saying, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Yeah, I never liked it either, but it sure is true!
Failure Offers Great Stories
Don’t you relate to people more when they share there WHOOPS stories than the ones where they got everything right?
Direct Correlation Between Success & Failure
I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it isn’t. When we learn from failure, it helps us narrow down, redirect and get closer to achieving.
So HOW DO WE FAIL?
I love Brene Brown’s words, "choose courage over comfort."
Rather than opting for what is familiar, stretch yourself.
Be willing - even if you're scared. Try something even if it doesn’t go as you expected.
And IF that happens, Be your biggest cheerleader!
Life is here to be experienced. And as my daughter reminded me the other day, wouldn’t you rather fail trying to reach your dreams than playing it small?