Saturday Journaling Prompt:

What have I learned from failing? How does that play out in my life?

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Mistakes Are Inevitable

We can’t escape the fact that mistakes and failures are an inevitable part of life. The very first steps we take as babies, start with a jittery waddle and are destined to result in failure. And unless you’re lucky enough to have been born with the genius gene, chances are you’ve failed a test paper at some point in your not-so-genius life. And how about the numerous attempts to give up fast food, soda, social media, staying up late, caffeine, and creamy cupcakes, I bet all those efforts are no strangers to failure.

But some people take failure as a personal indictment of their ability, a stain on their oh-so-perfect record. They misconstrue failure as weakness and fear the wrath of public opinion.

Some people are so afraid to fail that they never try anything new. They stay in the safe zone paralyzed by the very thought that their endeavors won’t turn out exactly the way they planned.

For some, failure is so final they’re defeated to the point that they give up on their hopes and dreams. And the belief that they once had in themselves is permanently assigned to the shadows of wudda, cudda, shudda.

Much like everything else we learn in life, our ideas about failing and making mistakes stem from our parents, society, religious, educational, and professional institutions, TV, and media, and the social circles we construct.

You Can’t Succeed Without Failing

But suppose some of those ideas are wrong or at best, misunderstood?

The truth is, you can’t succeed at anything without failing. Failing provides the fertile opportunity to do things over, get better, and keep on until you succeed. It’s a necessary ingredient of success. Just ask anyone who is at the top of their game, running the show, or living their best life. They’ll tell you how many times they had to rethink a strategy, abandon a plan or go back to the drawing board, on more than one occasion.

In the kernel of a mistake lies a valuable lesson. When you get the lesson, you become stronger, wiser, and more resilient. You acquire valuable life skills and insights and broaden your understanding of the world. This changed behavior builds neural pathways that are essential for adapting to new experiences, new learning, and creating new memories. Turns out mistakes are not only the building blocks of your brain but of life’s experiences too.

Remember failures are the stepping stones to success. If you stumble on the road is just a stumble and not the end of the journey.

Mistakes happen. Look for the lesson. Correct it and move on, that way it won’t keep showing up in your life.

Life keeps teaching us the same lessons until we’re ready to learn them. Here are five questions to help you see mistakes differently and learn from life’s lessons.

Here are five questions to help you see mistakes differently and learn from life’s lessons.

1. What, that is unhelpful, do I keep repeating in my life?
2. What is the learning that I’ve been ignoring or secretly avoiding?
3. What prevents me from doing things differently? What’s getting in the way?
4. What might I feel differently about myself if I chose to see mistakes as something positive?
5. What new beliefs could I choose about mistakes and failures?

Ponder these questions over the week ahead then choose one action to move forward with.

JOURNALING

Explore your inner world with journaling. Travel to the furthest reaches of your mind to discover your power and potential. Connect with the depth of who you are and who you would like to become. Dive deep into the ocean of truth and knowledge that lies within. Self-work is the repository of your wealth and the road to your salvation. It will set you free. Stay accountable to your journal and make it your trusted friend. Remember it is always about you.

With grace and gratitude

Michelle

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