Is Failing Really That Important? Here’s the Truth

Facing failure and criticism is the most challenging task for any human being. Everyone loves success and hates failure.

This is inherent in the human nature. Is it possible to achieve success without failure? 

What is Failure?

There is always a gap between expectations and reality. When the outcome is against our predictions despite putting in sincere efforts and energies then it is termed as a failure. 

The outcome may be against us either due to internal factors like unknown mistakes or due to external forces, which are beyond the human span of control.

Importance of Failure

Failure brings down excessive ego and makes an individual humble and simple. It also eliminates overconfidence among the individuals. Failure helps in making the individual highly focused on his goals and objectives. 

Some people feel too big for their shoes. Failure helps them to resize the same. It makes the people more tolerant and they start empathizing with others. Failure makes people flexible, receptive, and more accommodating. 

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can achieve greatly” —Robert F Kennedy

Here are some tools, techniques and tips tips after facing failure:

• Keep cool and composed. Any extra activities at this juncture result in adding fuel to the fire. When faced with failure, the human mind gets tense and does not think logically and analytically. Hence, do not become hasty.
• “Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses,” said George Washington Carver. Don’t show your anger over your failure to others. When you are responsible for the failure then what is the meaning of transferring your anger to others?
• Go by the bottom-up approach by looking at the root of the problem and tackling it accordingly.
• If the root of the problem is big then slice it down into small pieces analyze the individual slices independently and integrate the same.
• Immediately think about how you went wrong and where you went wrong. Thorough analysis helps diagnose the reasons behind the failure and what transpired and prompted failure. This step will help go for introspection and provide remedial action so that the mistakes are not repeated in the future.
• Look clearly whether the failure is the result of internal factors or external forces, which are beyond human control. If the mistake occurred due to external forces then it is futile to think through it. If the mistake occurred due to internal factors then this is the time to rectify and take remedial steps. 
• Accept the fact that failure is universal. Let us know and accept the fact that small achievers have small failures and big achievers have big failures. It is a well-admitted fact that the higher the fall higher the rise. Think your failure is small when compared with others as it brings solace to you.
• Take it up as a challenge. Don’t take every problem as a problem; rather treat it as an opportunity. It is only the test of fire that makes fine steel. An optimist looks for opportunities from problems whereas a pessimist looks for problems in each opportunity.
• Discuss the failure with your trusted colleagues and friends who can provide the right direction and guidance. Discussion generates wider dimensions and helps to get at the broader format for failure. 

A Take-Home Message

Arrogance brings you down and humbleness brings you up. When you tumble you get humble. Bounce back from failure like a rubber ball.