Embracing Failure as a Pathway to Success

We often think of failure as the opposite of success, when in many cases it is the foundation of getting to your destinations. The trip to unlocking this giant power within you is never a straight shot, but rather a path that is riddled with bumps and bruises along the way. Failure is often the greatest teacher in which we can absorb the lessons we need to grow, adapt, and innovate.

Research by psychologist Carol Dweck has shown that people with a growth mindset, who see abilities as potential and challenges as opportunities, are much more likely than naysayers to see failure as part of the process and not necessarily a reflection of their potential. This quality, which is a major component of resilience and persistence, is one of the key factors leading to success. Failure becomes a pathway, not a barrier.

As Theodore Roosevelt declared in his ‘Man in the Arena’ speech, ‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is in the arena … who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.’ Failure is not the enemy; it is the result of being willing to dare greatly. So even if you fail on your way to achieving the goal, you are making progress.

The Key Takeaway for Your Journey: Begin to see each of your failures as a stepping stone. Say to yourself: What can I learn from this?’ And then use those lessons to move forward. Failures are not dead ends: they are the detours that take you closer to where you want to go.

Actionable Step: Start a ‘Failure Journal’. List each setback, the lessons you learned from it, and how you will apply the knowledge you gained toward your next endeavors. The more times you can turn your setbacks into steps forward, the more clear your path to success becomes.

For a deeper exploration into developing a resilient mindset and overcoming challenges, check out 'The Extraordinary Within' where I dive into the lessons learned from real-life examples.

References: Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House.