Failure - Why it intrigues me

“Failure is only an opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely”

- Henry Ford

Failure - the moment I read this word or any of us reads this word, the immediate picture our mind creates is that of heads dropped in shame, people curled up in a dark room, thinking that their life has ended. Truly, for them it has. As for those who see failure as an opportunity, their life has just begun.

Image source : Onnit.com

F-A-I-L-U-R-E, a seven letter word that holds the power to shape the life of a person depending upon how he reacts to it. React positively and you come under the World’s high achievers. React negatively and you go hurtling down to a life of ever long depression. What amazes me is that, according to me this word is the second most dangerous weapon of destruction because last time I checked, nuclear weapons still remain the first. Not only can this word break the will power that drives the human soul but can also damage the mindset of even the most motivated person. If not dealt immediately it can have life long consequences, recovery from which has always been painful, yet an amazing transformational experience.

Image source : theamericangenius.com

Coming back to the point, when people fail, their lives become miserable, actually that doesn’t happen by itself, it’s the people themselves who make their lives miserable. The moment someone faces failure they try to hide it. “Shh I failed, mustn’t tell anyone” It’s because one believes that when failure strikes, it engulfs their life goals. But what people ignore is the fact that they have enrolled in a whole new adventure and who knows, that this adventure might lead to an even bigger goal than the last one. Giving up on your goal because of one setback is like slashing your other 3 tires just because you got a flat. As Shahrukh khan once quoted :-

“The path to success is through the fear of failure. If you aren’t scared enough of failing you are unlinkely to succeed. It’s not pleasant to fail, it’s tough. All of us experience it, you will too if you haven’t already. So use it to succeed. It is your response to failure that actually helps to buffer the reverses that you experience. Repeated failure has taught me to stop pretending that I am someone else. It’s  given me the clarity to stick to the things that really matter to me instead of distracting me from my core. Do not be afraid to defy conventions. Do not be afraid to destroy systems that kill your art and soul. Do not be afraid to go hungry and do not be afraid to walk alone, because on a tightrope we all walk alone”

The greatest fear a person has is the opinion of others (as stated in the Insecurities article). But what people fail to realize, (Yes, we fail even in realizing) is that failure can never be avoided. Failure is the oxygen of success. 

Getting back to the question as to why failure intrigues me, it’s pretty simple actually. What do you do when you fall down riding a bike? Do you just lie there crying and wailing, waiting for someone to approach you? No you don’t, you get back up immediately so that no one notices you because you’ll be embarrassed. Now this example contradicts my aforesaid statement. I said, when people fail they try to hide it but in this example you not only hid it from everyone but got back up all on your own!!! This is the case with many people, although they take the first step of hiding it, they forget the immediate step of working on the failure. Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who do nothing and succeed.  

When failure confronts us, we have a reaction what I call the 'Bounce Back' effect. Mind you, this only happens to the strong willed people, those who have the potential to fight against all odds and face eye to eye with failure. According to this effect, people try to be a better version of themselves in the field in which they have faced failure. Lost a 100m sprint? Bounce Back effect kicks in, and before you know it, you’re the Champ. Only happens to those who have felt the pain caused by failure and have the strength to carry on. Failure defeats losers but it inspires winners. 

Failure makes you a beast altogether. You become capable of doing things and a new sense of confidence kicks in. Failure, believe it or not makes you humble, motivates you to do more and instills in you a deep determination. That is why folks, it intrigues me. What a normal successful life couldn’t get out of you, a failure-to-success experience surely does. And I quote “Fear not the one who has known success all along, fear the one who has known failure, for surely he has known defeat and surely he knows the path to success”.  

And always remember -

It’s not failure, it’s unfinished success.


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