Failure Lets Us Practice Trying Again

Did you miss the ball? Great! More practice ahead ...

Hi, human. You look a little bruised. I heard you thinking (all dogs are mind-readers) about how you failed, and about how you’re afraid you’ll fail again.

We should celebrate!

The fact that you failed means you tried.

You found something that didn’t work. And it means that you’re actively building one of the most crucial habits of all: trying again.

So many people try a thing. Try to paint, try to build a photography business, try to get a book published. That in and of itself is awesome, but you know how many people fail the first time, decide they’re no good at whatever it is, and give up?

Way too many. And I care about you too much to let that be you.

Remember when I was a puppy and I couldn’t catch a ball? You didn’t tell me I was untalented. You didn’t tell me to give up. You threw the ball again and let me practice. And practice again. I’m so uncoordinated that we practiced a LOT. And now I can catch the ball almost every time (except for when it goes into the pond). It doesn’t matter how many times I failed before. What matters is that I learned to keep trying for as long as it took.

Failure is okay. Failure is good. It lets us practice trying again.

It won’t feel good, human, so don’t expect it to. Maybe you feel disappointed, or ashamed, or afraid. Name the feelings, sit with them, maybe even wallow for a bit. I’ll lick away the tears, and let you throw the ball for me in the backyard.

The ability to try again is more important than any fleeting success.

Instead of seeing failure as a condemnation of your whole tall-legged being, reframe it as a tool, as an education. As training that will set you up strongly for the rest of your life.

Now throw that ball!

Grr—I missed. I should have caught that, it was an easy one.

Let’s try it again!

Have you failed recently? Share here so we can cheer you on to try again!