Articles on Learning | Topics: learning, learn, study, studying
by Boyd Mathews
One of the reasons most people don't pursue their life's goals is fear of failure. Failure is widely viewed as highly negative outcome of the goal realization process. In reality, failure can prove to be a remarkably constructive outcome. Although it has become something of a cliché, learning from your failures is one of the best ways to ultimately realize your goals.
The Perception of Failure
Failure is a much-maligned concept in our society. In our highly productive society, failure is seen as a dead-end, indicative of a lack of resources and even talent. Some people even see failure as a personal failing, a flaw in logical thinking or planning. In reality, almost every perceived failure is actually a step forward towards your goal. Think of the goal realization process as a massive scientific experiment. Science is all about trial and error. The instances of error are just as important, if not more, than those of success. When we come upon a perceived dead-end, it is almost like a road sign. We are directed towards a different route, one that may eventually lead to our success. Most of time, failure can teach you about how to be successful. It gives you an opportunity to reevaluate your route, and allows you to make the changes you need to be successful.
The Lessons of Failure
Most of the time, instances of perceived failure can be highly enlightening and instructive. What type of lessons can be learned from failure? Many times, failure to achieve our goals is indicative of goals that are too unrealistic. Perhaps we have set goals for ourselves that are far too lofty. Maybe you would like to become more physically active. It would be unwise to set a goal of completing a full marathon in a few months. If you decide to pursue an unrealistic goal, you will probably run into a dead end. You may become discouraged, frustrated, or simply fail to achieve your stated goal. Be honest with yourself about your current abilities, talents, and aspirations. Setting realistic goals is one of the best ways to achieve success.
Remember, most of time failure indicates that something is not quite meshing or the passion to commit is absent. Perhaps your specific abilities do not mesh with your goals. Maybe you are not ready to make the commitment, and need to face your fears before starting off on your goal realization journey. Whatever the case, there is always an invaluable lesson to learn when you fail to achieve your goals.
| Historical Quote |
I said something which gave you to think I hated cats. But gad, sir, I am one of the most fanatical cat lovers in the business. If you hate them, I may learn to hate you. If your allergies hate them, I will tolerate the situation to the best of my ability.
| —Raymond Chandler (1888–1959) |
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What to Do If You Think You Have Failed
If you feel you've failed at achieving your goals, make the time to review the circumstances of your situation. Some people find this process to painful, and simply avoid meditating upon their experience. It is absolutely paramount that you evaluate your situation, no matter how difficult it may seem at first. Take an inventory of your motivation, desires, talents, abilities, resources, and support network. The most important thing to take into consideration is your motivation and personal desires. Is this goal something you truly wanted? Many people fail to achieve their articulated goals simply because they are not passionate about them. They started off on the wrong foot by choosing the wrong goals, probably for the wrong reasons.
If you decide that you did pursue the right goals, think about your current circumstances. Do you currently have the right knowledge and skills to successfully attain your goal? If not, take the time to gain the requisite knowledge you need to be successful. What about your resources? Do you have the time and financial stability to achieve your goals? If not, you may have to put in place a strategy to achieve your goals. If you think you have the authentic passion, the right skills, and the resources to accomplish your goals and you still find yourself unable to succeed, think about your support network. Have you surrounded yourself with the right kinds of people? Almost every successful person has a strong support network of friends and family members that want to see them succeed, and do their best to keep them on track.
The most important thing you can do is to accept failure. If you can't bring yourself to embrace episodes of perceived failure, that's OK. But don't fear it, either. Remember that even the most successful individuals experienced failure, and helped them find their way to success.
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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "No Fear – Learning from Failure Can Help Realize your Goals" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by SloanSemester.org. |
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