I have made some huge mistakes in my life. Thank God.
A Lot to Be Thankful For
I have a lot to be thankful for. I have an amazing girlfriend who is one of the best and kindest people I have ever met. I have three awesome kids who I get to play with and spend time with and learn from. I have a good job and a nice home.
I also am thankful for all the opportunities there are to learn and grow, and for the ways in which I can express myself here, through books, and with music. Even more I am moving forward on my dreams which is a huge blessing.
Another Angle
Yet as I look back on it all, I think about all the ways I’ve fallen short. It’s not always easy to think about. As someone who struggles with depression, seeing my failures can often make me feel remorse for the people I’ve hurt along the way.
But when I think about the ways in which I’ve failed, I see the most growth. Some of the most painful times in my life were where I thought one thing was true and took a leap, only to fall flat on my face. The pain was immense, but the lesson taught was even greater.
The Value of Failure
Failure can teach us such valuable lessons. It can shatter hubris by showing us the way we are going will be destructive to ourselves and others. It can open our eyes to the pain and sorrow we can bring when we head down an arrogant path. It can shine a light into the dark places we avoid looking in because we’re afraid what might be lurking there.
As we look around and see person after person at the height of their careers crushed under the weight of their own hubris, we can see that success by itself is not enough. If we always get what we want, we often think that anything we want is ours for the taking. This deception can lead to our success at the expense of others, and, if unchecked, can lead to extreme and abusive behaviors.
Failure is the check that keeps us in line. It shows us that we need to take another approach. It helps us grow and keeps our focus strong and clear.
It sucks to fail, but by getting up, dusting ourselves off, and taking a look around, we can see what didn’t work, make amends, and get a better sense of who we are and where we should go. And that’s a lot to be thankful for.
