What To Do When You Fail
About two weeks ago, we had to rush our daughter to the emergency room. She was having a VERY hard time breathing. Such a hard time that, while we were in the ER, I started to panic. Would she be okay? Would she recover?
Of course she would...and I KNEW that in my head. But the emotion of the moment was getting the best of me.
After administering Epinephrine to open her swollen and inflamed airways, she was doing MUCH better within the hour. And after giving her steroids, she was doing even better. They kept her overnight and sent us home in the morning with a happy, healthy baby.
Now, why do I tell you all of that?
I tell you that for one reason.
To remind us all that L I F E H A P P E N S. Period.
Sometimes the unexpected happens and we have to roll with the punches.
About a month ago, I committed to writing 500 words a day, EVERY day for the next 30 days. And that hospital incident totally threw me off. I got behind on emails, appointments, and sleep (the oh-so-very-important sleep...how I missed thee). And I got behind on writing.
I started to beat myself up about it. It’s extremely important to honor my word, even if my word is to myself. I value my commitments and want to honor them. I want to be counted on and accountable. So how can I be counted on if I don’t keep my commitments?
But you know what? Sometimes, you need to cut yourself some slack. Actually, MOST times you need to cut yourself some slack. Because sometimes you need to take your daughter to the emergency room. Sometimes you need to set some things aside to focus on your family’s needs. Sometimes you need to catch up on some SLEEP (oh thou most precious of all daily repetitions...so grateful for thee)!
Here’s the best part about life: you almost always get a second chance! There are certainly areas where you may not get second chances, but I believe those are few and far between. At the very least, I think we can agree on the proverb that says,
“A righteous man falls seven times, and rises again...”
That gives me hope. And it should give you hope too.
Just because you fall, doesn’t mean you have to stay there. Falling doesn’t equal failing.
And failing isn’t final.
I’ve heard Michael Hyatt say,
“Failure isn’t final, it’s just feedback.”
Mmmmm...that’s good. Like, Campbell’s soup good. Or maybe some other kind of all natural, organic, non-GMO, gluten free kind of soup that’s also pretty good.
But we have a choice. We get to choose how we interpret our failure.
We can let it devastate us. Or we can let it motivate us.
Let’s be honest--life is stressful enough. There’s no need to let failure add extra stress by contemplating all the reasons why you shouldn’t have failed (I’m sure there are many). By choosing not to let failure get the best of you, you’re locking the front door of your mind and emotions and saying, “NO failure! You don’t get the last word. No extra stress allowed around these parts.” *tips hat like a cowboy*
What we DO get the opportunity to do, is rise again. We may have fallen down, but we have the ability to get back up! Seems simple, right?
That’s because it is.
We must adapt our mindsets to view failure as lessons learned. As opportunities to overcome challenges. As a reason to keep pressing on.
The world needs us to burn alive with passion. Don’t let failure put the fire out.