Failing: it's the new path to success

March 04, 2019

Failing: it's the new path to success

      I love the quote "There is no key to success but there is a key to failure, and it's trying to please everyone."

      Please fail and fail often. The younger you do it, the better. As an infantry Marine I would get frustrated at leadership because they didn't respect the failing process that comes with learning. I would say "Let's bleed in training so we only sweat in combat."

      There is a beautiful resilience that is hard won when when failing and accepting that failure. It's a process of getting to know our limitations so we can identify what we need to work on. It's natural. It's ok. If we don't push ourselves to the point of failure then we fail to realize our true potential. This is what the military does best...pushing to failure then building upon that failure to success.

Often, people don't receive the right kind of pressure. The pressure that build diamonds out of coal. Everyday when we are young, if things come to quickly or to easy, there is a price to be paid. Diamond pressure is slow, consistent and hot! It's doesn't burn you, it molds you. Most of us become polished diamonds later in life. That's perfectly fine also. As long as we get to the destination.

      I had an amazing talk with someone yesterday and she said "I'm in transition. I actually cried a little a few seconds ago. It's scary and I don't know what will become of my new path. Sorry, I didn't mean to be so deep, we just met."

    I smiled. My heart smiled and I said "You don't EVER have to say sorry for expressing your true emotions. "Deep" is what I do! It's kinda my thang!"

   What she was expressing was the fear of the unknown. The fear of failing. When we let fear override us, we cast shadows on the light within us.

     In talking more with her we discussed;

Overcoming the fear of failure

Understanding that we can only control ourselves and when we give too much attention to the negative or fear, we are sapping creative energy that can be used towards success.

Laser focusing on the end result.

Work backwards. Envision success and then formulate the details of what is required to attain it. You don't just a cut a tree down because it's in your way. You have to think about what your going to do with that tree once it's down? Where will the wood go? Knowing these things BEFORE you cut down the tree adds to success. Success is about preparation.

Accepting life on our terms or more so the universal terms

I don't worry often. It does me no good. Once I've done my research, I commit. Everything else is adjusting on the fly and accepting the outcomes, then revisiting any failures and making changes.

Finding flow and balance

It's hard sometimes to find our flow. Usually this is because we don't make time that is quality time. Remove all distractions. Find a quite place to zen out. Focus on creativity. My friend once wrote a essay in high school entitled "My Best Ideas Come When I'm Pooping." It's not been studied and the results are in; WE NEED BOREDOM!! It's when you are bored that you actually are NOT engaged in distractions and your mind starts to get creative. For me it's long hot showers with the water running over my shoulders. I have awesome brainstorming sessions because there is NO TV, NO PHONE...NOTHING but me and my thoughts.

So, in conclusion...

You have the ability to control your life by your own actions and reactions. Get out there and concur the world.

Rambling Father