A Loss isn’t a Failure

When we try to reach new goals or new heights we might miss or we might take a L, a loss. That doesn’t mean that we are a failure.

For instance, we when start a new adventure or a new activity, we will suck. For the first few times we will take an L on those days and chalk it up to inexperience. That is not failing.

So when we try a new sport or new video game there is a learning curve. We will not be good. I’ve tried playing tennis before and I am terrible. Just awful. I did not fail at playing, I just take the loss on those matches. Likewise, for anyone who has tried play golf for the first time they will realize that it’s a lot harder than it looks. Doesn’t mean you are a failure of a golfer.

Failing is catastrophic. It is also situational. I know of people who have started business and ended up shutting their doors on those business because of poor management, too many headaches, or just burnout. The situation may be constituted as a failure but they just take the loss and move on.

A prime example of this is NASA. It is a world renown program founded 65 years ago. No one would consider NASA as a failure. The program has taken some big Ls in its history, (ie, Columbia and Challenger) and those programs might be considered failures, but they have also taken huge Ws too (ie Apollo 11 and Oppy).

When we say, “I’m a failure” that plants a seed in our mind of identity that is almost unrecoverable. It takes a lot to overcome negative self-talk of that caliber. We can acknowledge that we are not good at certain things due to inexperience or natural ability but through time we can get better.

Next time you “miss” your mark realize it is just a small piece of the situation or who you are and try to make up for it. Don’t consider it a failure because it hardly ever is.

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