To fail or not to fail..

“The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering.” 

- Ben Okri

Be scared, we're human. 

But, an amazing part about being human is our ability to overcome. Overcome the fear and step out of your comfort zone. By stepping out of your comfort zone you are trying something new. (When I say trying something new it doesn't have to be as big and crazy as packing up and move to Croatia) By trying something new you may be more susceptible to making mistakes. GOOD. Make beautiful mistakes, or "failures", because each failure takes you closer and closer to your great success*. 

The way I see failing is that you need a perfect blend long term memory and short term emotional memory. I found an excerpt from a Johnny Cash quote that says it perfectly:

"You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it"

In the moment, when the mistake is realized you may feel an overwhelming wave of "what did I just do!"  Embrace that feeling, breath and realize the deed has been done so the only way to retroact is by remembering your failures by learning from it. Leading to growth and improvement. 

In one of my sales jobs I had a couple years ago we were taught to say to people who said "no, thank you" after our sales pitch by saying "thank you." It wasn't necessarily a lesson on etiquette but it was rather a "thank you for saying no, because I am now one more no closer to a yes". I see it as a similar analogy to our failures. The more we fail the closer we are arriving to where we are looking to get go. 

Let's be human. Let's be emotional and passionate. Let's try new things and gain a new perspective. Let's stop seeking control on other people and gain energy not from pulling it from each other but from the beauty that has been on this earth before us. Let's not be scared to tell each other how we feel unless your significant other asks if that dress makes her look fat, the answer is always "no". Let's leave everyone we meet in every encounter no matter how small or big just a little bit better off before they crossed your path. 

*  "To laugh often and much; 

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you Mr. Hooker in law for bringing this quote back to memory. 

HK