Get stuck in the rat race, trapped in the crowds, lost in the competitive chaos.
Everywhere you look people are competing for the top, desperately seeking to be better,go further and earn more-each trying to satiate that unquenchable thirst for success that drives them.
This isn't one of those lardy dardy rants on how we need to forget about money, or a rife moan about how ''money can't buy happiness'' and our desperate need for focus on the simpler things-so fear not. I'll spare you the lecture, we all probably know it by heart anyway.
Instead, I want to share the beautiful notion of failure. Too often is it feared. The very thought of it raises connotations on negativity, defeat, unworthiness. Throughout time it's been associated with shame, something we need to steer clear of , poisoned and tainted by our obstinate ideas.
In all honesty- there is nothing more beautiful.
With failure , we learn.
With failure, we adapt.
With failure, we succeed.
Let's take an exam. By failing continuously at attempts before hand, we learn to strive harder and do better. Failure makes us panic, it makes us remember and before we know it -we've learnt to succeed.
They work hand in hand to define us.
Success gets the glory, Failure is the fallen angel.
Imagine you're in a race. It's the last stretch, the competition is tight..and your arms are pumping furiously, legs burning yet determined, eyes fixed on the finish line. To your sides, you see runners creeping unnervingly close, arms cutting the air too...better, faster than you...eyes fixated on that line too.
So should you push harder, try to get there first?
Should you pump more aggressively, try to shred the opposition?
No.
Drop back, fall down and get hurt.
Drop back and feel the others surge past you.
Get hurt with the pain of losing, the fiery lunge on your insides as you plummet into the murk of agonized shame and harrowing embarrassment.
(Note: Do not follow rule if running in the Olympic final...)
Close your eyes and soak it up.
This is how it should be, this is where you grow, this is what defines you.
Plunging to these grueling lows, helps us reach those dizzy highs.
So yes, this may have been a mundane post...an uninspiring one , a 'scroll straight through' one- but it needed to be written.
Cliche? Yes.
Over discussed? Yes.
Monotonous? Yes.
So, to sit back and summarise- I think it's safe to say ... this post has been a failure.
Mission accomplished.
I'll leave you with this, a poignant present to sum up my ramble:
"Failures are but the pillars of success."
- Welsh Proverb
Wonderful wonderful post!! I agree with you 100%. Failure brings about much more change and growth in an individual then success does. Alot of people don't know this about me but I failed out of nursing school the first time around. I worked my booty off to get back in and start completely over. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but now that I am finally at the finnish line about to graduate in May I can look back and see what goodness my struggle brought about. I now realize how much I have grown as a person over the last 2+ years. It was emotionally hard for me to fight for what I wanted but oh so worth it. I have learned how strong I am as an individual and now know I can handle anything life throws at me. Failure brings about change and growth and that can be something wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you just said, apart from the last comment. This was anything but a failure. For a ramble it was incredibly interesting and it really made me think. Failure is a part of life, and although its scary it does push you harder. This was a lovely thought and thankyou for shareing it.
ReplyDeleteYour post was something I absolutely needed to hear right now. Thank you for posting these serendipitous words. These lines especially resonated with me:
ReplyDelete"This is how it should be, this is where you grow, this is what defines you.
Plunging to these grueling lows, helps us reach those dizzy highs."
Thank you for helping me to remember that sometimes failure is necessary to ultimately succeed in life!