I’ve talked a lot about this subject in person and online, but here I go again: Failure. Why are we so afraid of it?
Recently I was reading the Bible because it’s like a Christian thing I guess, and I read the words “do not be afraid” less as encouragement and more as a command. Like, don’t you dare get scared.
For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!
1 Chronicles 22:13 NLT
This is a new perspective for me: being obedient to courage. Reading this way makes me feel like fear is not just something to live with, it is something to completely do away with.
I know that being labeled a “failure” is the only way for me to ever be one of the greats. So, I’ve tried to stop sulking whenever I don’t meet my goals. I didn’t meet them in January, and I’m struggling again this month. Cue fear & discouragement. Even writing this post is, like, procrastinating. Should I even be doing this? What’s the point? I’m terrible, I suck at this, I’m not doing it the way this other person is, etc.
Despite all the advice and encouragement I might dish out, fear and doubt are still big parts of my journey. However, I remind myself that it doesn’t matter what the journey looks like. It’s not anyone else’s, it’s mine. And if I fail a few times, that’s just part of it.
It is WAY worse to stop than it is to fail.
When it comes to your dreams, no is not an answer.
Rachel Hollis from Girl, Wash Your Face
So back to the question at the beginning: why are we afraid of failure? Maybe it’s because failure means the end of perfection. If that’s the case, then we have to change our minds about success. It’s not getting there smoothly; it’s getting there despite all the bumps in the road. The above quote from Rachel Hollis is not exactly what it seems, because she goes on to explain that “no” was an answer she received many times. She just took it as “not this way.” It’s on us to find the right path for ourselves.
And, as someone who trusts in a higher power, that means aligning my views with my faith and making my number one dream to serve well. But my secondary dreams exist for a reason. Pursuing them, so long as God doesn’t wish to stop me, is my responsibility! Plus, I believe that my secondary dreams will lead to my primary one. I was given these talents by Him, after all.
So let me end with this: the world needs you to kick failure’s butt and do your thing.
Don’t you dare be afraid!
Piper Bee 