Fear of failure
Source: Pinterest
Is failure actually myth?
I heard a similar question on a podcast, that I want to ask you.
“What past events or situations do you think you have failed?”
Write them down. Contemplate (without judging yourself) why do you think you failed in those moments?
When I asked myself this, and reflected on my past experiences in life that I thought I failed- it turns out that I honestly don’t believe I’ve actually “failed” anything.
To me “failure” can be perceived as a lesson or an experience. Which takes you to the next step of your wonderful journey called life.
My examples of what I perceived as failure previously
Getting a C on my piano exam when I was 12 years old
Not passing my year 12 ATAR score to get into architecture
Failing year 12
Not being as successful as I wanted to be in my small clothing business
Not continuing to pursue my small clothing business because I thought I failed at it
These are just some thoughts of my own.
I want to unpack them with you, to turn them into a new story that doesn’t involve actually failing those experiences.
I loved playing the piano, but only for fun. I’m actually not entirely sure why I did piano exams, because it wasn’t like I was going to make a career from it. Long story short I stopped playing after I got a C, because I was so upset and I thought I “failed”. The reality was I was a good piano player and enjoyed playing the piano. The pressure of having to do a piano exam at 12 years old was just too much.
Year 12 was not my year. I had a lot of personal things going on that year. I dreamed about doing architecture at university after high school. But after the year I had, that wasn’t happening. This lead me to take 2 gap years (travelling to Europe and New Zealand). Then I did an exam (which I passed) to get into my fashion degree at university. Moral of the story - I needed to fail year 12, in order for me to live out a different journey life had planned for me instead.
Basically the same as no.2 above. In saying that though, I still graduated year 12.
I had so many amazing opportunities from starting my small clothing brand. That I would have never thought would have ever happened to me, unless I started my own business.
Just because I don’t want to pursue my small clothing business, doesn’t mean I failed. It just means I want to move on, and do something else with my time that I find more purposeful, and joyful in.
Now it’s your turn to journal on your past. I encourage you to change the stories that you thought you “failed” into something more lighter, and positive.
Remember: Everything in your past has lead you to where you are now. So be grateful for yourself that you have gotten through all your toughest days. Be proud of your past. You wouldn’t be you without it.
