Soul on a Journey

Hi again! It’s me! How about we go and grab a coffee because I want us to celebrate! Let’s celebrate all our failures! :)

Life Lesson 7 – It’s good to Fail

I want us to redefine failure today. Quick, grab a piece of paper and let’s do some free association. Write the word ‘Failure’ on a sheet of paper and jot down anything that comes to mind regarding that word… Go ahead take a minute and do it while I sip some coffee… This is going to be fun :)

Here are some words and phrases written by random people who tried this out…are yours similar?

• Judgement from parents
• Shame
• Guilt
• Judged by society
• Waste of time and effort
• Loser
• Hopeless
• Embarrassment

Now watch this: Famous Failures - Motivational Video (3 mins)

What do you think now? Do you know what the difference between you and them is? Only one… And let me quote one of my all-time favourite motivational speakers Zig Ziglar “Failure is an event, not a person.” The difference is that the people who become heroes and legends and successes are those who see failure as something external – as an event AND NOT something internal that defines who they are! This is something very powerful to become aware of. Please take a moment to let it sink in.

Let me boldly invite you to redefine failure in your life! You are not a failure EVER… you have simply tried something which has not succeeded… yet. In Thomas Edison’s words “I have not failed, I have just found 10 000 ways that don’t work!” You see, a failure is an event which becomes an opportunity to learn and grow, to become stronger, wiser and more creative as you actively think of new and innovative ways to succeed.

Listen to how billionaire Sara Blakely was brought up to view failure:

Learning to celebrate failure at a young age led to this billionaire's success (1.35mins)

Let’s do something about it now, shall we? :)

Redefine Failure Action Plan (credit to some of my heroes Zig Ziglar, Sara Blakely and Carol Dweck)

1. Externalize Failure – visualize it as an event outside of you AND NOT something that defines who you are. Remember: “Failure is an event, not a person.” (Ziglar)
2. Redefine failure as not trying. Failure is not about outcome. (Blakely)
3. Fear of failure is the real obstacle in your life. Take tiny steps to face those fears, to try out whatever it is that you want to do; “feel the fear and do it anyway” (Jeffers)
4. When an event does not go as you envisioned, when an event fails, look at it objectively; find “the hidden gifts” (Blakely) the things that you can learn from the event in order to do better next time!
5. Foster a Growth Mindset. Challenge yourself out of a Fixed Mindset (refer to Dr Carol Dweck’s works) Here is a brief introduction Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck (9.34 mins)

So cheers to you my friend, for using failure as a stepping stone toward success! Until next time "Peace out awesome soul!"

Blessings from Ella