It's Time to Accept Failure

The Rolling Stones may just have had it right with their hit song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (Click Here for SoundClip) A title that demonstrates the frustrations of life. It shows the difficulties faced by the human race that act with more than instinct, but with desire.

I have many things that I want. Money, good job, wife, be accepted into the Accounting program at BYU, etc. These are only a beginning of a never ending list of wants and desires. However, life doesn't always play out how we want it to. Something that I am learning to cope with is to accept failure. 

What is Failure?

Failure consists of two points: one is from a lack or inability to perform; i.e., trying to ice-skate but failing. The other, is completely separate from what we do; it is when outside forces cause a failed situation; i.e., the stock market crashes and you loose money (a big failure, but it was based on something that was out of your control). Now, the later may be better than the first, but most of the time when one fails they will ask him or herself, "what if". These "what if" questions stem from the failure and usually go as follows, "What if I had studied more?", or "What if I had sold my stock earlier?" These "What if" questions are dangerous and should be avoided.

I failed this week, I had a big test, an important test, and I did not do well. It hurt me because I felt I had adequately prepared; I also felt pretty good walking out of the testing center to go see my score. However, once I saw the score on the screen my hopes dropped and so did my demeanor. I was crushed. This happens to many people, and there is only one thing to do after a failure like this, move on.

It's Time to Accept Failure

Failure, when it has already happened, needs to be accepted. At the point of failure there is no return, and we must learn to say, "That's okay". Life isn't about to end. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Edison had the right idea, to take what was given then find another way. When failure enters our lives we mustn't think that it is the end of the road, but look for another road that will lead to success. Barak Obama, when he ran against Bobby Rush for congress he got his “rear end handed to [him].” (NY Times) But if we look at Obama now he is the President of the United States.

This is my call to action, to face defeat with an attitude of optimism. When failure happens it is not the end of the road, and I wish to see myself rise above it. Many of the most successful people in the world had faced failure. We have only failed when we have given up.