THE FREEDOM TO FAIL

Our success-oriented society is not at all comfortable with the concept of failure. People want to see themselves succeed in everything, and they react strongly to even the suggestion of having failed at anything.

The Tao perspective on this is clearer and more realistic. Everyone has successes and failures. No one is successful at everything, and no one is exempt from failure. Everyone will fail at some point in life. That is simply how things are.

Reality works this way for a reason. The only way you can become skillful in the art of living is through years of experience. The way you gain the most valuable experience is when things do not work out as you expect. For every lesson learned from having done something well, there is at least one lesson learned from having done something poorly. When you look at it this way, you begin to see failure as something useful. If you never fail, you will also never learn from your mistakes. Failure is essential.

The Tao Today

Failure is nothing to fear. It is one of the many processes in life, and it serves a purpose just as other processes do. Let this realization sink in, and give yourself the freedom to fail. Try a new approach to life. It may work out or it may not. Either way, you will find wisdom to be harvested from the experience.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin