What Failure Can Teach You
The Importance of Failure
The perfectionists and folks with anxiety can relate to the phrase “failure is not an option” all too well. Although, they may not be walking around consciously reciting this phrase to themselves, the fear of failure is always looming over their shoulder.
Sometimes the fear of failure is so tight it doesn’t even allow for the best effort try because if it doesn’t turn out as planned, it would be damaging. How would you ever recover?
The hard truth is, that failure is a part of life. Failure is an important part of life.
Without the successes from failure, we would be missing out on a lot of great and essential things, for example, penicillin and chocolate chip cookies!
In this blog, I’m sharing with you 4 life lessons from failure.
I am a virtual therapist in Wilmington, NC, providing ACT therapy in North Carolina and Maryland.
I specialize in therapy for anxious high-achieving women. In addition to anxiety treatment, other topics focused on in therapy include perfectionism and burnout.
Are you ready to start anxiety therapy with me? Click the button below to reserve your free 15-minute consultation on the date and time of your choice.
Keep reading to learn why failure is important and what you can take away from experiencing failure.
4 Things Failure Can Teach You
The fear of failure can be paralyzing and life-altering. It can keep you from trying something new, going for a goal, and taking a chance at something great. The fear of failure can have you missing out on some big important moments.
In actuality, failure can be the ultimate teacher and guide. There are so many valuable lessons to learn from failure, as long as you’re open to receiving the gifts.
Failure Life Lesson #1 - Perseverance
Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland said the famous saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Persevering can bring about a strength to continue working towards a goal despite encountering challenges.
Failure Life Lesson #2 - Growth
Failing at something can be disappointing and upsetting. Even when these feelings are happening, within failure there is also an opportunity presented for growth. Within the growing process, there is learning, humility, and resilience.
These skills are essential in life.
Failure Life Lesson #3 - Problem-solving
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills will continue to be a part of your life. When we try something and it doesn’t work as intended, we go back to the drawing board.
Failure presents an opportunity to work on these very necessary skill sets.
Failure Life Lesson #4 - Flexibility
Flexibility could easily be lumped in with growth but I thought it was important and impactful enough to give it its own category.
When expectations are set and not met, we can either accept it and move forward or resist and create a whole extra set of problems.
Learning the life lesson of flexibility is key and applies to many situations. The reality is things will not always go as planned but learning that it’s okay to feel frustrated about that and still be able to pivot and go in another direction is essential.
Start Anxiety Therapy in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling
Thinking about failure and experiencing failure can bring up a lot of anxiety. It isn’t easy to confront.
However, there are a lot of benefits and lessons that failure can teach you. Failure is a part of life and it is impossible to constantly avoid or escape failure. If you did, chances are your life may not be as fulfilling as you are wanting.
I use acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety treatment.
You can learn more about ACT and if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can be helpful for you.
Get started in therapy at Calm Waters Counseling by following these 4 simple steps:
Click the button below to schedule your free 15-minute consultation
Complete the brief questionnaire sent to your email before the consultation
Meet with your anxiety therapist
Start living your life with more confidence
Therapy for High Achievers in Wilmington, NC at Calm Waters Counseling
Working with high-achievers I know failure can be a challenging topic. I also know that anxious go-getters can channel that energy because y’all are hard-working, brave, and resilient.
You can learn more about me and my Wilmington, NC virtual counseling practice.
Check out all therapy services offered at Calm Waters Counseling, listed below:
Anxiety counseling in Wilmington, NC
Treatment for Perfectionism in Maryland
Burnout Counseling in Wilmington, NC
Therapy for Imposter Syndrome in Wilmington, NC
Online Anxiety Therapy in Maryland
Online therapy offers a lot of benefits and flexibility for the hardworking high achiever. The effectiveness and flexibility online therapy provides is what makes it a great tool to continue taking good care of yourself for when you can’t get into the office or just prefer the comfort of your own space.
Online acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety is helpful and effective.
Click the links below to learn about online therapy where you live
online therapy for anxiety in North Carolina
online anxiety therapy in Maryland
Still, have questions? Click the buttons below to get more information.
Written by: Laura Rippeon, LCSW, LCSW-C
Updated 3/18/23