| We are a learning society. We spend many years | | | | fosters lessons and growth that are expressed in |
| and countless hours learning things in school, taking | | | | a non-threatening manner is constructive. It is the |
| refresher courses, pursuing post-graduate level | | | | only form of criticism that is in alignment with the |
| course work, and internet classes. Yet, when | | | | universe, and positive self-talk is the best way to |
| someone does not succeed, it is a truly | | | | approach our endeavors. |
| enlightened individual that remembers to label it | | | | If fear of failure is keeping you from attempting |
| for what it is ... a learning experience. People that | | | | something you long to do, ask yourself why you |
| are able to recognize this when it shows up in | | | | are letting it worry you. Is not taking a chance by |
| their own lives are able to use it to their | | | | doing something, much more courageous than |
| advantage. If fact, they are typically very | | | | doing nothing at all? If everyone thought of failure |
| successful because they possess a "willingness to | | | | as a major obstacle, we would not have the |
| fail". They are able to look at what most would | | | | technological advancements that we currently so |
| consider a failure, as a means to get to their final | | | | accustomed to. How many times did Sir Isaac |
| destination. Just because they go off-track | | | | Newton have to be bonked on the head before |
| temporarily does not mean they are not even | | | | he made sense of the Law of Gravity? What |
| closer to their target. It is simply targeting, | | | | about Benjamin Franklin and his kite, or scientists |
| realigning, and targeting again until whatever they | | | | and their cures and vaccines? The point is we |
| are after is achieved. | | | | would still be in the Dark Ages, if various |
| It is often said that children can be cruel, but it is | | | | inventors, scientists and others had refused to |
| adults that are cruel. Adults would never look at a | | | | step out of their comfort zones and dare to take |
| young child attempting something and label that | | | | a chance at failure. Isn't it time you made your |
| child a failure. They would say "Aww, Sally that's | | | | mark? |
| okay, that was a good try, you'll get it next time!" | | | | Failure is just one step in the right direction to the |
| They might even remark to another adult that it's | | | | ultimate goal of growth and success. Don't be |
| so wonderful to see how far Sally has come over | | | | afraid to try new things, stretch beyond your |
| the past few weeks. As adults we forget that life | | | | comfortable limits and stray off-course. The |
| is a constant growth process. We are always | | | | worse that can happen is that you'll fail, learn |
| capable of learning no matter how old we are, | | | | from that instance and have to try something |
| and we should continue to take risks. We should | | | | new. So, dust off those rollerblades, go take that |
| never be fearful of failure because failure is just | | | | snowboarding lesson, or go sign up for that class, |
| another form of constructive criticism. Why is it | | | | life is too short to play it safe all the time. Go fail, |
| constructive criticism? Because criticism that | | | | er I mean learn! |