I am a failure. I have failed more times than I can count, and there are many times when I’ve allowed my failures to define my reality in a self-defeating way. I took every setback, every missed opportunity, every moment where I had fallen short not as a building block towards success, but as a pitfall that held me back from all the wondrous things this life can afford. I was in complete despair and found myself paralyzed by the very thought of failing, so I quit attempting anything at all. Then one day God shifted my perspective.
While working on my 4th Step of AA I began to look at all the defects of character I was exhibiting and a fire was lit deep within me. I no longer saw these defects as a barrier but as a checklist to becoming a better man. I was no longer paralyzed by the thought of failing but accepting the fact that my failures don’t define me. What I do in the midst of failure does. Funnily enough, after I came to this realization I began to see every setback, every missed opportunity, every moment where I had fallen short as a celebratory occasion. I had, through my failure, gotten one step closer to success!
Consequently, I shifted from a state of inaction to one of action. I took hold of every moment and understood the importance of doing rather than worrying. As long as I was doing something then I was heading towards a solution instead of wallowing in stagnation. I became rejuvenated and my willingness to take a shot and miss rather than take no shot at all instilled in me a fearlessness that is unshakeable.
Michael Jordan once said, “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Walt Disney was once asked how he was able to stay motivated in the face of defeat and said, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all the troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me. You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
Even when we look at scripture we see that we are encouraged to learn from our mistakes and to get back up when we fail. Proverbs 24:16 states, “…for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…”
In other words, don’t quit before the miracle happens! Don’t let fear of failure prevent you from becoming the absolute best version of yourself, but rather allow failure to assure you that you are on the right track and that you won’t have to relive the experience of that failure again. There will be another waiting to help you grow, so embrace it! Celebrate your new understanding of what works and what doesn’t! Persevere and seize every opportunity for advancement in life.
I am a failure.
Through my failures, I succeed.
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