How should we see failure ?

[Eurasia]

Our culture seems so bent on success and the pursuit of perfectionism to be good at everything.. and i sometimes feel that if I achieve people praise but if i fail people are quick to judge and criticize and usually the ones who criticize lack understanding of the circumstances.

How have your personal failures influenced how others perceive you? do you care what they say or are you one of those people who has failed so many times and don't care what others think of you? How do you approach failure are you the type who will not try anything at the risk of failing again or do you jump back into life and take risks?

What do you think is a healthy way of seeing personal failure based on The word of God?

Discuss

 

[HannahBanana]

Well, I personally am horrible at dealing with failure. I tend to get really discouraged every time I fail at something, and I often feel like giving up completely at whatever it is I've failed.

How I wish that I (and every other Christian) could deal with failure is by realizing that it's a normal part of life, and it's something that God planned on happening in my life, so it's not like I'm angering Him by failing at things. I'd love to, someday, be able to just jump right back up from my failures with a smile on my face. I feel like that's what God would want most from me, and from all of His children.

 

[deke123]

FAILURE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS IN LIFE WHERE IT IS MOST TIMES IMPOSSIBILE FOR U TO COPE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. BUT U HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GOD SEES UR FAILURE AS WINNING AS LONG AS IT IS DEALING WITH THE POSITIVE IN LIFE NOT NEGETIVE, BECAUSE GOD IS ALL POWERFUL, AND SO WE SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME MENTALITY IN US, THAT WE ALL ARE ALL POWERFUL. USE THIS IN ANY POSITVE FAILURE IN LIFE, OR NEGITIVE AND GO TO GOD FOR UR REAL RESULTS. U'LL SEE THAT UR FAILURE IS NOT REALLY THAT AT ALL.

 

[DamagedNothing]

I tend to want to run away. I have a very perfectionist nature so failure in anything is really hard for me to handle. Usually I hold up ok on the outside, but inside I fall apart, and in the future I tend to avoid the areas where I once failed. (If that makes any sense.) A healthy, biblical way to deal with failure is something I've not yet achieved. I know it's not in God's will for us to dwell on our weaknesses. I just don't know how to put that into practice.

 

[Sadiegrl]

I too have been very self critical, and hated failure. But instead of seeing it as failure, God has shown me a new way of dealing. It is now an opportunity to get back up, try again, and learn from the mistake. Others will see that you are unshakable, and will wonder what it is that keeps you firm...which is our LORD. Any time that failure happens, instead of keeping those feelings inside, just tell God everything. He says he wants to know every last detail (of course he already knows, but wants to have that intimate relationship with us), and after i find comfort, and the want to try again. Failure is a part of life, especially when dealing with a sinful nature. Its inevitable and that why God is here to help and has strong arms that are needed to be picked up again! Praise God for his unending love and attention to our every last need.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I used to be like some of the posters above, a perfectionist and hating failure. I always thought if you were good enough, you'd do it the first time, and if you couldn't, that was it.

Boy was I wrong.

Fortunately it was something I was able to earn earlier on in my life than a lot of people. But failure, as I've grown to understand, is really a very important part of life and can actually be a really great thing. Failure does not mean you attempt something and do not succeed. Failure is when you give up. Failure is an attitude. I'm a pilot and by my vary nature I'm a perfectionist. Every single thing I do in and around aircraft is done in such a way that I try to do it absolutly perfect every time. And I don't come close. There is always something to learn, and I must say, it is the times I do poorly that I often learn the most. Luckily all of the mistakes I have made were either pretty small, or I was with an instructor to get me out of a potentially sticky situation. But it is those times that stick out in my mind more than the things I've done exceptionally well. Also, what I learned about failure is that it requires us to stop for a moment and analize what we've done to get ourselves in that situation to begin with. I learned to be very analitical of my actions after something goes ary. And come to think of it, I do the same when something goes well.

And I can say the same about my photography. Sometimes I'll mess up a setting and ruin a shot I really wanted to get. What do I do? I just make sure I don't do it again by studying where things broke down. Then I write it down, take notes, whatver it takes to remember it for next time. Photography is much more forgiving than aviation. In aviation you are allowed to make mistakes-just make sure it's not the same one twice.

Failure does not always have to be a bad thing. It takes a positive attitude to turn it around into something great. And that goes with everything in life.

I hope that made sense. If not, I blame it on the hour. (12:31AM) lol

 

[theartist87]

failure is all about learning for me. I've long since learned to ignore how others view my failures (and there are a bunch of them), but to examine them and use them as a learning experience. See what I did wrong, why I did it wrong.

Too many people are quick to point out your failures. You just have to learn to ignore that.

 

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I tend to want to run away. I have a very perfectionist nature so failure in anything is really hard for me to handle. Usually I hold up ok on the outside, but inside I fall apart, and in the future I tend to avoid the areas where I once failed. (If that makes any sense.) A healthy, biblical way to deal with failure is something I've not yet achieved. I know it's not in God's will for us to dwell on our weaknesses. I just don't know how to put that into practice.

It's just something that takes time. And sometimes a swift kick to your backside. I certainly have needed a few of those. There seems to be a very fine line between dwelling on our mistakes and learning from them. Sometimes when you're still in the middle of trying to work on the mistake it it is best to forget about what went wrong and just push forward without looking back. Once you have gotten through it, however, it is then important to reasses what happened. You find where things broke down and try to figure out a way to avoid that situation again. Then just get back on the horse.

For example, when I was training it was common for me to make a lot of mistakes in the early phases. When beginning I would focus on the mistake right after it happened. Only problem was I was still flying and then kept making more mistakes, then I'd get flustered again and upset about the second mistake, and make another mistake yet again! It can get very overwhelming very quickly. Before you know it you aren't sure which way is up! The best thing to do is make the mistake, and TEACH YOURSELF how to push through it without thought and keep going. It isn't a natural reaction. Then once I landed my instructor and I would go back into the office and pick appart every part of the flight-analizing the good, the bad, and unfortunately the ugly too. Realize we all make mistakes, and most of us all make the SAME mistakes at one point or another. It's something that took me hundreds of hours in an airplane with an instructor to learn.

It's one of those things that was relatively simple to learn in a cockpit and was able to translate to every other aspect of my life. When I'm at the middle school working with my students I go through the same steps. If I make a poor jugment call, overreact, etc. I stick to my initial decisions to be consistant and get through it. Then I analize what went wrong, take note, fix the situation, and make sure it doesn't happen again.

Don't think of things as failures. Think of it as a mistake. Afterall, a failure is just a mistake that wasn't corrected.

 

[IndomitableAmy]

I'm not sure how appropriate the question "How should we see failure?" is, if only because words like "should" set oneself up for failure.

I think it's good to recognize that life is a learning experience..

Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Failure is not imperfection. Failure is not mistakes made. Failure, I think, is giving up. I do not think there is failure until one gives up.

I'm not sure how biblical it is, but there are my thoughts for whatever they are worth.

 

[Eurasia]

I'm not sure how appropriate the question "How should we see failure?" is, if only because words like "should" set oneself up for failure.

I think it's good to recognize that life is a learning experience..

Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

Failure is not imperfection. Failure is not mistakes made. Failure, I think, is giving up. I do not think there is failure until one gives up.

I'm not sure how biblical it is, but there are my thoughts for whatever they are worth.

The question is not really the issue, I guess the reason I put "should" in the question is because we don't always see failure in a good light.. should makes us think of failure perhaps in a new way and helps us question and perhaps reflect on how we have dealt with failure in the past and what we can do in the future..

.. i like to look at the question from an optimistic point of view..

it's great to see some input on others experiences from failure you're all shedding some positive light on the topic.. keep it coming..

 

[Apollo Celestio]

I see it as annoying. As obstacles in my path and hindrances to my plans. Sadly at times there is no avoiding it, so you just deal with it.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I think that failure humbles people.

I used to be very arrogant in high school because of my grades and when I came to university, thought I'd get A+ in everything and expected perfection.. and then I failed a course, lol. That humbled me a lot. Now I don't think that intelligence is the best trait someone could have.. there are better things out there, which God wants us to learn.

 

[Eurasia]

I think that failure humbles people.

I used to be very arrogant in high school because of my grades and when I came to university, thought I'd get A+ in everything and expected perfection.. and then I failed a course, lol. That humbled me a lot. Now I don't think that intelligence is the best trait someone could have.. there are better things out there, which God wants us to learn.

I agree with you that failure does humble us and it is also helps to see that we can't do it on own without God, it also helps us rely on God in life instead of taking charge of the reins and doing it your way.

 

[peace in the vally]

As An Opertunity To Improve. If We Fail At Something, It Gives Us An Oppertunity To Go Back And Find Out What It Was That Caused It To Fail And Do It Again A Differant Way. We Could Change Alot Of Bad To Good If This Is What We Would Or Could Do.

 

[Kalli]

I see failure as a gift given from God. Why? Without failure we might get to the point where needing God is only when we are suffering, which failure can provide,but with failure, like said, it humbles and shows us either our errors, or that it is not God's plan. I've fought with my failures thoroughout my young life, mostly academic and career wise, but throughout it all (and trust me its still taking time), I've realized that failure is just one step of the Christian life. Look at the Apostle Paul, he suffered through many things to proclaim the gospel of Christ. He was barred from going into Asia and instead went to Europe to make a huge mark on our Christian history/faith as we see it today. I try and use Paul as a supplement if you will and Jesus as my guide! It is hard, and every day is a struggle, some days I pick my baggage back up and want to haul it myself and take care of it, and then here comes another obstacle to get in my way. I just take it day by day and in prayer. Blessings!

 

[ernest_theweedwhackerguy]

Failure is NOT an option.
At least, not for me.

 

[Shephard23]

Failure should be seen as something to learn from. Become stronger, study to become smarter, experience begats wisdom. Don't give up and turn that failure into a success.

Of course, actions speak louder than words. That person who failed will have to be willing to put down some work. The reward at the end is well worth it.