"Learn from failure." You've probably heard that from countless articles, stories, and books. This article is to drive home some key points about learning from failure. Lessons you probably are very familiar with but need reminders about. Or, if you are new to this thing called "failure," then it will serve as a springboard to better success (I hope).
You hear stories about failure. You hear stories about success. Everyone hears how failure is the mother of all successes. Yet, you are still fearful of failure as if it is a black mark that will appear on your report card of life if you do happen to fail. And fail you will if you are like the rest of us mere mortals. Does that mean you stop trying?
Here are some tips for learning from failure:
1. Take The Risk And Pay the Price
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. You have to be willing to take the risk venture beyond your comfort zone regardless of what area you are in to gain some form of success. Think about the entrepreneurs, scientists, leaders, and businesses that took the path less trodden and how they were rewarded handsomely. If you are willing to pay the price with the risk you take, then the returns may just surprise you. "But, what if I fail?" you ask.
2. Know It’s Okay To Fail (Really)
Yes, it’s okay to fail. The adage we learn from failure is true. Be open with your mind, eyes, and ears. The lessons are there for you to understand and do better next time. Think about what you have done right, what you can do better, and what you should stop doing. That is one of the easiest ways to analyze how to learn from failure.
One side point: in cases like these, I dislike using the word "failure." "Setback" is my preferred word.
3. Realize Experience Is The Best Teacher
Think about this: if you do not fail in any of your endeavors, how do you learn to be better? How do you become wiser? People say experience is the best teacher. If you accept that to be true then you need to accept failure as one of the many lessons you gain from experience. So, you get to learn from failure. It’s that simple. Think about failures as lessons in the journey of life.
4. Allow Yourself The Freedom To Fail
Allow yourself the freedom to fail if you want to learn from failure. When you are too cautious, you do not allow yourself to take any risks. If you are safe all the time, then you are not giving yourself the opportunity to learn from failure. Give yourself the freedom to fail and see how the lessons of success open up for you.
5. Let The Fear Of Failure Help You Succeed
The fear of failure may not necessarily be a bad thing, as it can propel you to succeed. Some people use it as a motivating factor to ensure they succeed. As long as you do not get paralyzed into inaction and limit your appetite for taking risks, I believe the fear of failure as a propelling factor can be of good use.
6. Welcome Failure
There can be no success without failure. You should welcome failure as an opportunity to learn and you will learn from failure. The fees for learning from failure may seem too high sometimes, but in the long run, you will somehow discover it a worthwhile price to pay.
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.