Motivation logo

Trial and Error

The Beauty of Failure

By Chana SaacksPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
1

We are all born with the inability to function on our own, we are open and vulnerable to the world in hopes someone will care for us. Needing someone to lean on in order to survive because as newborns we cannot adapt to the new responsibilities of life. We have a clean slate, unmarked and ready for the world to make its first imprint. As we grow older we grow accustomed to the new realities, we learn and grow and celebrate the big milestones that are too soon taken for grated. We become fixated on the next step, the next stage all while not realizing that we are missing precious and memorable moments.

As human beings we mimic others in order to grasp and master the skill we are trying to exceed at. As we grow up the skills don’t get harder, they just get more in tune with the level we are at. Learning to talk when we are babies is not an easy task to do, though we do it, we start off small and we go from there. We challenge ourselves without even realizing it, by just learning the different steps of this foreign world.

We learn from the culture of our parents or our caregivers, we are influenced by those around us. We adjust to change quite quickly, and tailor our responses to those changes. We are living, breathing creatures that learn through trial and error. Take walking as an example, We get up and quickly fall, but that does not stop us from trying again and again until we succeed. So when and where did our fear of failure come into play?

Fear is the belief that something bad or dangerous is going to happen. Many people have fears and there are different types of fears. Some are irrational fears, a phobia which means it’s unlikely to cause harm and some fears can be the result of a traumatic event. Like many, fear of failure can be a product of both.

Where does fear of failure come from? According to lifehack.org it can come from a variety of places.

Firstly, from childhood, if parents are too critical of their child the child will learn to doubt themselves and need constant reassurance. Secondly, the quality of perfectionism, needing to do something perfect or not at all. This is also a cognitive distortion. Cognitive distortions are ways that our mind convinces us of things that aren’t really true, like the all or nothing thinking. Thirdly, the bad habit of disqualifying the positives, when one fails they sometimes don’t take into account the positives. An example of that is the effort that was put into the project that maybe they normally wouldn’t have done so. Lastly, fear of failure can come from a frail self confidence, for someone with a strong sense of self will look at the positives as well as what needs to be done in order to succeed.

Being afraid to fail can hinder growth for it will lead one to not try. Being afraid is not a bad thing, it means you’re human and being human is not a crime, if it were we’d all be guilty. Failing is not something to be ashamed of because without failure there are no lessons and without lessons there’s no way to grow. So fearing failure is okay, though if a baby was afraid to fall it would never learn to walk. Don’t let that fear stop you from being your best self, be your best self and then let everything else fall into place.

If there’s one thing fear has taught me it’s that I’m human, and I’ve never felt so comforted by that fact.

self help
1

About the Creator

Chana Saacks

Pain is inevitable, I know that. What I didn’t know was that perspective can change. All it takes is a pair of different colored glasses, and of course a bit of work. I’m almost there, I can feel it. I want to share that with the world :)

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

Chana Saacks is not accepting comments at the moment

Want to show your support? Send them a one-off tip.

Find us on social media

Miscellaneous links

  • Explore
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Support

© 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.