You're Only Human: Why It's Okay To Fail

Failure haunts us like no other. Getting that first red “F” in school may spark those fears that stay with us for the rest of our lives.

However, we need to learn to grab failure by the horns and transform it into something tangible — an opportunity. Opportunities are endless ways to pave the paths of our lives. They exist behind unopened doors and allow us to look deeper, not only into our futures, but into ourselves.

To think of failure as the end of the world is wrong — just think about your first job. At one time or another, you probably made some sort of mistake. Maybe, your boss, or whoever trained you, was reassuring when you messed up and told you not to worry, to just be a sponge, learn from the mistake and move on.

Not being afraid to ask questions and make mistakes is essential, not only in a first job, but in all aspects of life. Being able to understand what went wrong helps our personal sense of self-sufficiency and provides reason to continue to try. It’s important to remember that making mistakes is totally acceptable, even if others notice the mistakes. What’s most important in the event of a mistake is how we bounce back.

As humans, we seek perfection and believe that acceptance is only granted as a result of being perfect. However, what we often fail to realize is that when someone sees you make a mistake, the other person is less inclined to feel intimidated by you. By making mistakes, you become approachable and human. Making mistakes allows people to relate to one another.

Through these struggles, we’re able to learn more about ourselves and figure out what we can and can’t handle. These are important parts of life that reveal aspects of our personalities and promote an active path toward self-discovery. You may find that you are able and willing to do something you never even thought was possible.

So, the next time you feel inclined to bury your head in your lap after forgetting to bring the table you’re serving the extra pickles they asked for, remember that you are only human. And unless you are serving aliens, they should understand that as well. All you need to do is politely apologize and identify a plan to forget less often.

At the moment you make a mistake, it may not feel like it, but messing up is just another way to learn more about yourself and your abilities. Each person has a personal path, lined with a plethora of doors available to open, and many of those doors won’t reveal themselves until after facing adversity. Just remember, the first key doesn’t always work — and if it doesn’t, it is your job to find other ways to open the door.

Photo credit: Shutterstock