Many of us spend our lives avoiding failure and dodging risks, but mistakes are one of the most essential factors to our advancement. Failure is not only a reality of success, it’s a primary catalyst. Just about every great leader in the world failed over and over before becoming successful. Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Steve Jobs, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Richard Branson -you name the leader and we can just about guarantee they’ve failed at some point. It’s the people who fail, the people who take risks, the people who are not afraid to face their worst fears who move our world forward in massive ways. Instead of fearing failure, embrace it. Here are 5 reasons failure is good for you:
It Builds Willpower & Determination
Failure is a major catalyst for willpower and determination. Failure drives us to strive for more, work harder, and do better next time. Without the sting of failure we risk becoming idle and uninspired. We need failure to push us to be our very best.
It Builds Compassion
Failure can make you a more compassionate, less judgmental person. Once you’ve dealt with real adversity, your compassion for others will grow. The world needs more understanding and kindness; failure helps facilitate such empathy.
It Makes You Wiser
Most of our greatest life lessons come from failure. Failure teaches us a lot about ourselves, about others, and the world around us. Most of us learn from our mistakes and the mistakes made by others. Failure shows us what we want and don’t want out of life. It provides clarity for our ambitions and career paths and it’s absolutely essential to our personal growth.
It’s Humbling
Nothing brings us back down to earth like failure. Humility is a wonderful virtue that will help make you a stronger, better person. Arrogance is not an attractive trait in personal or professional relationships. Failure reminds us that we’re human and no matter how smart and capable we are, we can still make mistakes.
It Helps Make You More Fearless
Best of all, failure makes you more fearless. Once you’ve failed and your worst fears have come true and you’re still standing, you’ll feel like you can conquer future challenges with aplomb. Don’t be surprised when a massive failure actually makes you more unstoppable! As Franklin D. Roosevelt said during his first presidential inauguration speech in 1933, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Over 80 years later his statement still rings true. Now go out and grab the world by its horns.
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