It is human nature to want to win and accomplish everything we desire. This means we are wired to want all the good things in life. What we aren’t wired to do, however, is to deal with how to move on if and when we fail, and because of that, we need to adapt. Failure leaves you feeling like you cannot move on, and it has the effect of making you feel incompetent and unequipped for life. This may be a failure regarding your exams, getting a job you want, or any other dream you have. Instead of viewing failure negatively, here are key takeaways from failure that will equip you for a better life.
You Are Not Perfect
You are not perfect, and it is okay because no one is. Failure is a way of grounding you back to reality. You are not all-powerful, and you do not know everything. Instead of running away from these facts, embrace them. Embrace the fact that you are not perfect. Embrace the fact that you are not always going to win. Be humble in the knowledge that to be human is to experience failure once in a while and that this is fine.
Resilience
Failure is inevitable. It is a part of human existence, which means that as long as you are alive, you will experience it. You cannot avoid failure, but you can prepare for it. Despite failing, you should weather the storm and continue with your life. Yes, failure hurts, and the experience is painful, but be capacitated to recover from it. You are tough; don’t let failure pull you down! When you fail, remember to exercise resilience.
Self-Reflection
More often than not, we tend to be aware of what everyone around us is doing and whether they are doing it the right way or not. Failure allows us to do that for ourselves. By grounding you, failure helps you to stop and think. This involves thinking about what you did wrong, what you did right, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. By introspecting, our self-awareness is enhanced, and we develop well, equipping us for the future. Take time to self-reflect after failure and allow failure to work for you and not against you.
Failure as a Lesson
Failure gives us room to learn. By bringing to light our strengths and weaknesses, failure will help us improve. Instead of being grumpy and completely ignorant after you fail, take this as a learning curve. A man who learns from his failure is a man better equipped and stronger. Assess why you failed and where you got it all wrong the first time so that when you do it again, you are guaranteed to see improvement. Taking lessons from your failure will allow you to experience both personal and professional growth.
Refocus and Regroup
Sometimes failure is just there to straighten our heads and make us aware of what is important to us. An example would be someone who is not book intelligent, continuously forcing themselves into the education system yet failing. That person could be the best at arts and crafts, though, yet totally uninterested in giving it a goal. The truth is that we all have our strengths and weaknesses, and if we want to succeed, we need to make use of them. Instead of forcing things, refocus and regroup for you to thrive at what you can do best.
Patience
Sometimes failure is not a ‘goodbye’ but a ‘not yet’. This is to say that you need to be patient and give yourself grace. Often, after a failed job interview, you feel like giving up because you did not get the job when you wanted it. Life requires patience, as everything moves at its own pace. It is up to you to adjust your pace to match that of life, and the way you can do this is by exercising patience. Your time will come, and regardless of how you feel, do not give up. Be patient.
Empathy
Failure is the greatest teacher of empathy. It is easy to look at other people’s lives while judging them for why they acted after failing as well as who they are. This is ignorant of their feelings and judgment based on an onlooker's perspective. However, experiencing the same thing will help you realize how it feels to be in that person’s shoes. Such is life in the case of failure. By experiencing the pain and hurt that failure brings, you are reminded to be considerate. Since failure is a constant part of life, one must show empathy to others when they are going through it, and given that you get to experience the failure directly, you become well-equipped for how you would have wanted to be treated at your time of failure. By failing, you get to take away an invaluable perspective, which is empathy.
Failure is not the end of your life!
Failure is not the end of life but a mere hurdle in life. This is important to keep in mind, as it will make you grittier and better equipped for life. Yes, failure hurts, and yes, it is hard to experience. However, what failure is not is a reason to give up on living. Mastering this will make you happier, and it will improve your emotional intelligence as well. When you fail, remember that it is not the end of life but rather a moment that will pass.