FAILURE IS ESSENTIAL

From very early in our lives much of our learning comes from trial and error. Attempting something, failing, making changes and attempting again having learned from the previous attempt.  Learning to walk and talk is filled with attempts and adjustments.  As we get older we can avoid a great deal of mistakes and learn from the history of others. We will still, throughout our lives, make mistakes. We will make wrong choices and experience the consequences of those choices. This will continue the process of learning. Actually, our mistakes are not failures.  There really isn't any failure, rather the results are FEEDBACK. When we look at failure from the perspective of feedback, we learn so much more.  We will receive counsel and guidance from those who have gone before us on this journey of life. Following their guidance can prevent  a lot of pain, frustration and heartache. We will at times believe that we know better based on our limited experience and will pursue a course fraught with pain and delays. At times the most difficult experiences we will ever have are when our children insist on making choices and pursuing a course we know is a serious mistake.  At these times, we must step back and allow for the failure / feedback to occur. As much as we would like to step in and protect or rescue someone from the consequences of poor choices, we cannot because they hold fast to their independence and the right to choose for themselves. We must then allow the process to unfold. The learning will come in feedback clothed in frustration and even deep pain. Nevertheless, essential learning will occur.  We see clearly that for all of us, failure is essential for life learning.