Embrace Failure To Learn Things That Success Won’t Teach
We all are familiar with the saying "Failure is the stepping stone to success." But how many of us actually take it to heart?
Many of you would agree that failure is an important and inevitable part of life. But once you fail, it becomes difficult to handle and you look for ways to escape from it rather than face it. The most successful people have shown that the secret to success is... having first gone through failures -- often many, many failures. The key lies in getting up when you fail and moving forward, no matter what.
Keep reading to find out why you should accept and embrace failure as a precursor to success.
You Need To Embrace Failure To Learn Things That Success Won’t Teach
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.- Samuel Beckett
1. Failure is the greatest teacher of life
Failure is considered the best teacher in life. You should never fear your teacher. When you have a "no fear" attitude towards failure, you can easily reach success. Since failure is an unavoidable part of life, there is no use fearing it. You have to face it one day or another.
Though you are not supposed to try something expecting failure, have a mind to accept it and learn from it when something goes wrong. The lessons in life that help you grow the most are those taught by failure. For example, once you have tried something and failed, you know that it should not be done that way, and that there are better ways of attaining success. You're one step closer to the goal.
2. Failure helps you reach your potential
To achieve success, you have to operate inside your strength zone but outside your comfort zone. The human mind has great potential, but we rarely recognize it fully. Most of us work from within our comfort zones expecting extraordinary things to happen. But extraordinary things only happen as a result of extraordinary efforts. This means that you should go to your highest limits to uncover your fullest potential. Only then can you taste success in all its glory.
To bring out the best in you, you must again have a "no fear" attitude towards failure. Try out new things without fear about the outcome in your mind. This is one secret to making the "impossible" possible. With a positive and resolute attitude, you will find strategies that you never knew existed.
3. Failure makes you grounded
It is a fact that failures hurt our ego. Yet there is a positive side to this as well, for once you fail, you tend to look at yourself and your surroundings to question what went wrong. This rarely happens when you succeed and your ego is fed. In these case you're often more inspired to overlook your flaws or mistakes, and are too blinded by the success to see things squarely and honestly.
Success depends on constant learning and improvement, and on seeking valuable insights and input from others. Failure actually encourages this more than success does, as it has a tendency to humble and ground us. This allows us to gain a better idea of what to change moving forward. Accepting mistakes and learning from them is vital to tasting success the next time around.
4. Failure determines who you are
There are people who take failure personally and give up easily. This encourages stagnation in life. There are others, however, who take it to their heads rather than their hearts, and learn from it instead of letting it get them down. They consider it as a temporary obstacle that can be surmounted with the right attitude.
Though we feel low during times of failure, how we respond tells us a lot about who we are. Most successful people have faced significant failures, gotten up and moved on with life. So never allow yourself to get complacent in life. Take risks and keep on improving yourself, through the highs but especially the lows.
Your turn
One constant in the lives of successful people is that they learn from their mistakes and use them to help them grow every day. Keeping the above four points in mind will help you take failure in stride, and embrace it as a great teacher and companion on the road to your success.
And remember: if you never taste failure, how could you know the sweetness of success? The more setbacks you face, the more rewarding the success will be when it does arrive. So never be afraid of failure. When met with it, analyze the situation wisely and think about what good you can take from it.
As Nelson Mandela said:
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.