Failure: Sink or Swim

I'm sure you're all familiar with the expression "sink or swim" and that fully applies when referring to failure -- either you learn from your mistakes or you repeat them constantly until you drown. The problem isn't the drowning so much as the fear of drowning, it can paralyse us into not attempting to learn or strike us during the process with enough force that we begin to flounder. What you learn about swimming in the ocean is generally its fairly easy, the salinity in the water keeps you afloat so you need minimal effort to progress. Of course there are other fears like rip tides, underwater predators and mismanaged vessels -- these are all valid fears (even the fear of drowning is). But you need to be vigilant and calm. Ask yourself a few questions: "Have I been practising how to swim? Are there others around me to help? Is the water clear? Is everyone having a good time?" If you can answer yes to these questions then give it a go -- the experience is well worth it.

I maybe using fear of swimming as an example but it holds true to so many experiences. That books you want to write, that woman/man you want to ask out (yes ladies you can ask us out :P ), that business you want to start or that move you want to make. The worst that can happen to you is that you fail! The book doesn't sell well, you get rejected by that person, the business flops or the move turns out to be a nightmare. But what's important is how you cope with failure: "Do you keep writing or give up entirely? Ask someone else out or hide from the world? Quit trying build your own business or alter your approach? Stay there and be miserable or move again?" The important thing to realise is you have options and aren't just stuck! Besides, the negative outcome isn't the only one...you don't always sink or drown, some times you swim. That book could be a best seller. That person you asked out will become the deepest connection you ever had with another person. Your business could be come the next Starbucks. That move could have put you exactly where you needed to be so you can develop yourself.

Fear can prevent us from going after what we want and achieving our dreams but only if we allow it to. If we allowed our fears to control us many of us would refuse to do anything of note, stay in bed and never see sunlight again. Those of us pushing past fear are swimming toward our goals. Hope to see you all swimming your heart out, even if you have to sink a few times first.