So many problems. So little time. Or so we think.
I’m sure we all have these days (or much longer) where we seem to be showered with so many problems that focusing on failure is not an option.
Challenges don’t have signal lights. There are no brake pads in life that tell us when to pause at certain decisions. Whatever we decide on, remember, failure is always an option.
So how do you deal with situations like these?
Always factor in failure as part of the equation to solving a problem. There is no shame in failing because it will always part of the learning curve.
One day, I told my staff over lunch that who they see me today as a successful clinician was a product of failure. I am not ashamed to tell that story over and over again.
In the class of 1983, I was one of those who did not pass the oral revalida. And while the rest of my class marched on stage during graduation, I was making up for the failure. The failure devastated my ego. Whatever ego was left was thrown out the window.
The question was – do I continue or do I give up? What will people say? After wallowing in self pity, I came face to face with realizing that ego never built dreams. It was the most humbling moment of my life. I needed to prove to my tribunal that they were wrong. I could do this.
The rest of my success is history. There is no other story in between except that story of failure and my becoming who I am today.
While we are entitled to failures, it’s a fair reminder that the accountability is ours. Own up to it.
My piece of advice to those who go through life’s failures, is that they are there as part of your journey are not meant to be your final destination.
It will hurt when you fail. But someday you’ll realize when looking back at these struggles, it changed your life for the better.
Relative Joy 