Why Failure can be a good thing in your life

Failure is one of those highly devastating experiences that can make or break your life. When I fail, I feel that the Universe is sending me a sign of awakening.

I have read somewhere Steve Jobs had said that being fired from Apple was the best thing that ever happened to him. That attitude is a sure sign of growth, of moving towards something that can take you from average to awesome. 

So, take the pledge to “Embrace Your Failures.” 

FAILURE IS AN AWAKENING, A STEPPING STONE TO AWESOMENESS

When your life is going smoothly, you don’t really grow. You are cozy in your comfort zone. It’s easy, convenient and leisurely. We all feel that way through the good times.

When you hit choppy waters, your skills are tested like never before. Not just your skills – a host of traits are put to test. Such as:

·        Your professional ethics and value systems [Do you feel tempted to take short cuts?]

·        Your sense of timing and sense of humor

·        Your inner compass – that which helps you to make critical decisions

·        Your integrity particularly in your inter personal relationships

FAILURE TEACHES YOU TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

We experience failure in different ways. If it’s a relationship, you have the choice to make yourself more miserable or you can choose to decide that it is over.

Another example - Losing a job enables you to evaluate yourself before you pitch your CV to a prospective employer. You may want to get trained to develop a skill. Or if you were miserable in your job, you will look for a job that you feel passionate about or interested in.

The options to grow are plenty. We just don’t see it when we succeed at everything or when life is too smooth.

FAILURE SHOWS YOU WHO YOUR REAL FRIENDS ARE

Do you want to discover who your real friends are? Failure is the best way to find out.

Right at the peak of my career in the publishing segment, I was surrounded by ‘fawning friends.’ Out of the blue, I took a break from my career and decided to spend sometime at home with my family. I saw a complete U-turn in my friends’ circle. They no longer wanted to talk or even be seen with me. When we met at parties, I got the cold shoulder. Lesson learned! 

Another funny instance – we visited my husband’s school buddy in Mumbai. It was my first trip to Mumbai in ten years and it meant a lot to me. This school buddy had been insisting we have dinner at his home and we were not sure but since he kept calling and insisting, we agreed reluctantly. 

When we reached there, he noted that we came in an auto and not in a cab. We didn’t tell him that our cab had stopped midway due to some issue and we took an auto from there. But you get the drift – he didn’t like what he saw.

Once we were seated, he asked casually about what we were doing. 

Jokingly, my husband said, “We have both quit our jobs and we are jobless.” 

What he didn’t say is that I have already got a job that I would join in after the Mumbai trip and that he would be starting his own law firm the same month.

The friend’s warm demeanor changed. He may have assumed we needed some financial help, which was not the case. 

Dinner was not offered. That's okay - except that I wished, as every mother would, that they had had the decency to give food to my baby who was really hungry by then!

So, we were on our way back to where we stayed. Most restaurants on the way had closed and those that were open - I wasn't sure I wanted my son to have food from there!

But the Universe never cheats on good human beings. Guess what happened?

We went to a restaurant – an expensive one – because we couldn’t find any other ones so late near to the place we stayed. There was a sweet young couple next to our table who kept admiring baby Adi (my son) and when we were about to pay the bill, it was paid already!

Apparently, they paid it and told us, “We just love your baby and wanted to give him a gift. This is our gift for your baby.”

Though I tried to refuse, they were very adamant and didn’t allow me to pay.

Isn’t it funny? We went to a ‘friend’s place because he invited us for dinner. He changed his mind and our dinner gets paid for by absolute strangers! I have never forgotten their loving gift and I often send out grateful prayers for the couple. 

Coming back to my point, it’s failure that helped me find out who my ‘real friends’ are because they turned up for me when I didn't expect it. Some sent me job offers whenever they saw something suitable for me though I hadn’t asked. They would follow up and say ‘Did you apply?’ to give me a gentle nudge. 

Trust me, these are the real angels that the Universe sends to you when you get a raw deal on other fronts. But you won’t discover them when you are enjoying the good times because they vanish into thin air and seem to disappear!

TREAT FAILURE LIKE AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

Everything happens in your life for a good reason. Failure is actually not what you think it is. SURPRISE THE UNIVERSE BY TREATING FAILURE LIKE AN UNEXPECTED GIFT. 

This is the best way to let go of your fears, trust in the Higher Power that guides you and enjoy the path you are set to take. To be inspired, read about these Amazing Path Makers. 

FAILURE CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE. EMBRACE IT WITH LOVE.

IT’s YOUR TURN TO INSPIRE ME J  

♥♥  I thank you with all my heart for reading my post. I dedicate this post with love and gratitude to all individuals who are pursuing their potential to become path makers.REQUEST: Please SHARE this article on your favorite social networks. Every share, like or tweet makes me reach out to more people who are in various phases of finding their own paths. I am grateful and I appreciate you for doing so. ♥♥