To fail is to be truly alive

I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve failed at things. Jobs coming to an end in disappointing burnt out ways, multiple challenges around cash flow and finances, things braking, fall outs, almost-won but then not won pieces of work, failed attempts to get really fit and healthy… The list goes on.

When you continue to try for things and they don’t always work out it can be hard, you can feel ashamed, uncertain, alone. You can hear internal and external criticism which can exacerbate the situation. ‘Why did I try?’ ‘People will think I’m a liability’ … ‘She was mad to even attempt that thing’ ‘I’d have done it like this instead…’  

When we’ve failed at something, and then we’re navigating the thoughts and criticisms that come in the wake of that, it seems like the only logical thing is to make life a bit ‘safer’, perhaps a bit smaller. The inclination is to retreat and to hide.

And I do think that after navigating a challenge, we need ‘cocoon’ time, to replenish and recoup our energy. But then really, what we need to do next, is to go again. To try again. To try differently, but with more knowledge, and more evidence to suggest that actually we can survive hard things. We can survive, even grow and thrive, through failure. 

What I’m learning, is that if I don’t try anything, if I stay small and safe and never give anything a go, then I’m not really living. To fail is to show up to life fully and see what it has to offer. When we try and fail we will inevitably also succeed, and all the feelings associated with both are what makes being a human such a beautiful adventure. 

So my invitation this week is to see where in your life you have failed, and congratulate yourself for it. Remind yourself of the courage it took to try, and how rich and vibrant your life is because you dare to show up to it.

With love as always, Hannah and Team Bird

Photo by Naomi Suzuki on Unsplash