Everyone has a story of failure and disadvantage—
those things we wish were done differently, better, or not at all.
If you’ve ever tried something and fallen short, you know the sting of failure.
But chances are, after coming out intact on the other side, you also know that crashing doesn’t say anything about who you are as a person.
It is simply a step on the journey towards success.

I, myself, press forward past my bouts of feeling like a failure.

In the past, not having the perspective vast enough to see how failure could actually help me, I thought I had met my end during those early painful days.
Each event felt tragic.
But I consistently came to find there was something else to be enjoyed after one door closed.

Looking back, I see it was all good, everything that happened.

What if we had that hindsight now—amidst the difficult times?
Wouldn’t our experiences be much more bearable (if not enjoyable)?

The opportunities that arose after the so-called failures
made what I wanted before pale in comparison to what I eventually got.
I just had to be patient to see it unfold.
You and Failure

Failure is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as
“the action or state of not functioning.”
In other words, failure’s something that stops you; it gets you nowhere.
Do you stop moving, stop breathing, or stop living when things don’t go as planned?

This body only stops when its heart stops beating.
So every day it keeps ticking is another chance at progress.

Don’t you always take another step, even if it was just to pick yourself up out of bed today?
Even when you think you failed, you haven’t because you’re still taking in air.

Failure is a misnomer.
It is an attempt to describe an event that leaves us with nothing—
no opportunities, no chances, no understanding.
When is that ever the case?

Failure is only failure if you say it is.
It only exists if you’re not willing to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and walk on.
Besides, success depends on those struggles, those attempts, those defeats. Success requires that climb up.
You and Success

Success is a journey; it consists of every trial and triumph combined.
And the best kind of journey…

Makes you stronger & forces growth
Teaches you more about yourself
Gives you insight and answers
Is an opportunity to evaluate and do different
Is better than the regret of not doing
Puts your goals within reach

Everything that happens contributes to a new awakening,
a new way of life, a new way of being.
We just have to see it as such.

When we don’t stop at failure, we’re bound for success.
So really, failure is success in the making…

Batteries fail, people don’t.
We’re always full of potential to do different, do more, and do better.
Failure is what you thought you couldn’t be; what you thought you couldn’t do; what you thought you couldn’t have.
Change that thought.

Start looking at life in terms of what you can and will do from where you are, with what you’ve got right now.
Start looking toward success no matter what…and make lemonade!

Success is our lesson learned.
Success is our silver lining.
Success is our second chance.

What failures have you overcome only to find yourself living your own success story?
What keeps you pressing forward?

~J