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Facing Failure



Failure hurts. A lot. It can push you down, beat you up and make you want to quit. It can be confusing and embarrassing. Failure is never fun.

But failure can also strengthen you. It can force you to come back with something better than you originally produced. It can create perseverance and tenacity. Failure is rarely a welcome guest but sometimes a necessary visitor. You will rarely advance in anything without first dancing with failure.

We are taught at an early age to believe failure is bad. We live in a society of eighth place trophies and participation metals. Grade school sports have removed scoreboards. We’ve accepted the elimination of a win as long as we can avoid the loss.

How tragic this is. Have we forgotten there is no true victory where a loss is not possible? We have worked so hard to eliminate the sting of defeat, but in doing so we have also blocked the path of progress.  A life of significance requires the grit and determination only the venom of failure can create. Failure is painful indeed, but also vital and it must be embraced. The opposite of success is not failure, but insignificance.

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