Say Yes To Failure

What would you be glad that you attempted to do, even if you failed? My strongest inspiration and best learning experiences have come from my failures. The best failures happen when you are living life fully, taking risks and being open to the possibility of things not working out the way you expected. What appears to be an epic disaster gives you an opportunity to look at things differently, analyze the situation and see what could be tweaked, improved, or abandoned. If you don’t take a risk by stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new, innovative and creative possibilities are never explored. Radical solutions are never found. You are deprived of the opportunity to build inner strength.

Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts has started an initiative called Failing Well designed to “destigmatize failure” and build resiliency in students who may not be used to achieving anything less than perfection. The expression “failure-deprived” was coined to describe students who were capable of writing excellent research papers, but struggled to cope with rejection on simpler levels – getting the dorm room they wanted, getting shut out of a preferred class, getting a B+ instead of an A in a class.

How to build resiliency? Here are some suggestions to help you or someone you love thrive:

• Learn relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or guided meditation
• Practice mindfulness
• Set realistic and achievable goals
• Develop non-internet friendships and relationships

If you would like help in developing your mindfulness or resiliency skills, contact me at Kathleen Crowley Coaching.