Dare to... Fail, Then Dare to Succeed

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” ~ Robert F. Kennedy 

 

We all know that nobody likes to fail. But let's face it, whether it’s a job, a marriage, or a close friendship, failure is inevitable and can be devastating, but it’s how we learn.  We need to realize that it’s natural to fail... yep, as natural as breathing.  We may not always enjoy it, but it teaches us how to navigate through life. But at the same time, if you don’t take big chances or if you're not giving it your all, then be static and don’t expect anything big in return. If you’re scared to fail then you’ll never really know what you can achieve.  So take a look at some of the reasons many people fail to succeed and then at some ways to navigate through them to get you back on the track to being successful and achieving your goals.

Fearful No More

Most people are fearful of what others think, that’s why some don’t dare to take the necessary chances needed for success.  But if you’re willing to give your all for what you honestly and authentically believe is a good cause, then that’s when you can expect something in return.  Some fears are real and should be respected, but fears that are exaggerated and unfounded keep really keep you from truly experiencing your life and becoming fulfilled.  But at the same time you have to be ready to accept that you will not achieve it every time. The only way to achieve great things is to push yourself to the extent that you can’t any more. You have to aim for goals that don’t seem that easy to reach and be willing to admit to yourself that you really want these things that will not be easy to get.  Use your failure as an antidote to empower you with the ability to learn from your fear.

Comfort Zone Be Gone

It’s easier to settle for small things than bigger ones when you don’t want to fail. Failure does not feel good and a lot of people don’t want to risk that. However, if you do not risk failing, you cannot achieve anything that is outside your comfort range.   And the more attached we become to a particular outcome, the greater the disappointment when things fall apart. But if you stop trying new things, or only allow yourself to do what you’re good at, the life you lead may not look like the life you want.  Perhaps it's time to stretch those limits a little! By stretching your comfort zone, not only will your life become more exciting, but you'll also build confidence. Focus on the joy of doing something and not on the anticipated outcome. If it works out, great and if it doesn't, shrug it off and keep moving... next!

Give Yourself Permission to Fail

I get it,  you think your self esteem might drop or you might feel humiliated or embarrassed, but give yourself permission to fail, then “dare to succeed”... even if that means being sloppy, taking risks, or slipping up, because excellence comes from experience, and experience often comes from failure. It’s important to remember that failing at one thing, no matter how big, doesn’t make you a failure and that learning how to cope with smaller disappointments, like doing poorly on a test or getting a bad work review, can really help you when faced with truly difficult times. Failing can also encourage you to reflect on whether you’re on the right path, sorting out what’s working and what isn’t. Failing is a learning process... it's a journey.

Be honest with yourself and know that people make mistakes.  An Albert Einstein quote says, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”  So take a deep breath and know that you're imperfect, (everyone is), therefore your actions will be imperfect. Realize also that it’s NOT natural for you to go from point A to point B in one swift straight line. It’s natural for the journey to be all over the place, at first, but with time, it will get smoother...  as long as you make corrections based on the feedback you get.  So fail, then dare to succeed. Things in the beginning will not look straight at all, but as time goes on and your experience grows, you'll see your successes... so dare to... fail, then dare to succeed.

Personal Development: The Growing is in the Journey

 The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.  Lao Tzu

Sure, your goal is the desired result which you envisions, plans and commits to achieve an end-point in some sort of assumed development and deadline.  Now, that anticipated result is what guides your actions and gives value to your goal.  And, goals, even small ones are beneficial to follow, for they lay out a strategic path of short goals to achieve, rather than simply striving only for the thing you desire the most.  In order to reach your goal, you must embark on a journey and there lies the determining factor as to whether or not you reach your goal ... the journey, because each step counts.

~ It's because of the Destination  ...

To reach your goal, keep your mind on the destination, but focus on you path or journey you encounter along the way.  The journey is important because it's where you grow. You cannot get anywhere without moving. Without journeying through life, you stagnate and die. It's where you're tested. Planning your goals and writing them down is the safe part of setting your goal. 

Personal Development: Comfort Zone Be Gone

Life loses its meaning when we get stuck up in comfort zone. –M.K. Soni

Your comfort zone is your behavioral state of mind operating in an anxiety-neutral condition, using a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk. True statement... in other words, boring.

LifeandStuff

 A comfort zone is a type of mental conditioning that causes a person to create and operate mental boundaries around themselves. 


Where is the challenge and growth when you operate around boundaries and already know what to expect. Such boundaries create an unfounded sense of security, that is, when you establish your comfort zone you tend to stay within that zone without stepping outside of it. Step outside your comfort zone and experiment with new and different environments. You will find that you'll be lead to new and different responses within your new environment. 

The Inner Path: Get Out Of Your Own Way!

Nothing strengthens the judgment and quickens the conscience like individual responsibility.
~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

 
Do you ever catch yourself going on and on about all the blunders others around you make.....how your friend is always late to work, your neighbor drinks too much, your cousin is too easy on his kids, your micro-managing boss..... but if someone hands you a criticism, you once again react with surprise, anger, and indignation.  Part of taking responsibility for our own lives involves figuring out where and how we get in our own way of making progress toward our goals. Seeing ourselves objectively, free of emotion and prejudices, however, is something most of us find extremely difficult...."Me? I certainly don’t do that!"  I know you want to concentrate and capitalize on your strengths, and don't get me wrong, I'm all for that, but I think many people refuse to be objective with themselves most of the time. But it does help once in awhile to take a good look at exactly what you're doing to move yourself forward, and what you might be doing to hold yourself back, in other words....you could be in your own way.  Here are three common ways I think you can get in your own way... slowing our progress toward your goals and what to do to get out of your way.