Finding the Courage to Fail - Even as a Broke-Ass Student
Dec 19th, 2006 by Jennifer Lynn
“Oh, burp, my tummy’s nice and full!”
(aka, what your piggy bank should be saying this New Years)
Darren Rowse is sponsoring a massive writing project over at ProBlogger in celebration of the coming New Year. Go check it out to win over $2,000 in various cool prizes (all winners are chosen at random simply for participating).
At the end of the project, I’ll be posting some of my favorite posts and newly discovered blogs. This is a great opportunity for old and new bloggers to become better acquainted and build a community together. The first day of the project is barely over and I’ve all ready discovered tons of interesting websites. I look forward to what the remaining days will bring.
The theme for this mass writing project is “reviews of last year and predictions for the coming year“. Go now and participate! Express yourself any way you’d like. The project is open to everyone until Thursday.
My Quiet Annual Reflection - Finding the Courage to Fail
When I reflect back on this year, I’ve learned an extremely valuable and poignant lesson that truly stands out in my mind. It has been finding the proper courage to take bigger risks in my life. In doing so, it also entails willingly facing the potentiality of greater failure. Perhaps I should rephrase this a bit - I’ve not only been accepting failure into my life, but embracing it as well. My personal journey this past year has brought me to a stunning realization. I’ve discovered a concept so liberating, it has literally turned my life into a tail spin.
I have never allowed myself to be afraid before, and yet be ok with that. I have never allowed myself to grow through embracing my fears or failures. Only recently have I realized how horrible this “safe” mode of thinking has really stunted my progress on many different levels.
Success Spawns from Numerous Failures
If it’s one thing I look forward to bringing with me into the new year, it’s the realization that I will screw up many, many times during the course of my life. Each of these failures, however, will serve as guidance tools and become sources of deeper wisdom. The key is continued perseverance, and simply not giving up when things get tough. If one avenue turns out to be a dud, there will always be zillions of others available to pursue.
I see so many people get caught up in a vicious rut because they find themselves stuck facing a dead-end street. They become afraid to step out and try something new. Perhaps, like me, they feel afraid and intimidated by the unknown. Thus they choose to remain stagnant where it feels safe and warm.
This New Years, make a list of your biggest fears. Let those little devils sit on your shoulder for an evening and dance around. Look them dead in the eye and celebrate in their disguised blessings. Imagine all the wonderful things you can accomplish by unleashing all the dread and fear in your life which is currently holding you back from what you want. So, stop sabotaging yourself!
Maybe, just maybe, today is your day to realize your passions and not look back in fear or regret.
Find your dreams and pursue them with a vengeance.
~†~ Baby Steps are Key ~†~
Happy upcoming New Year, everyone! Dream it, and dream big. Because if you truly believe it, you will achieve it.
=^..^=
nice post Jennifer Lynn - thanks for participating
Aloha Jen…thanks for visiting Mo’ Bettah Marketing and I hope you become a regular!
You are an excellent writer and I am feeding your blog!
As far as being a 5 star blogger…you can click on the award at my blog…this is basically an affiliate link for Brass Ring Blogging. Honesty is always the best policy.
Great post Jennifer .. and great blog …
Hey I like the idea of your site. Perhaps you can win some of that cool swag they are giving away for the contest.
As for being stuck in a rut, I am. Trying to work through it alot of personal pain from the rut too but if I can get out of it two people well hopefully benefit from it.
If you can imagine it you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.
Ward, William Arthur…
Thnx a lot for your comment on my blog and for this really inspirational post!
Hope your dreams come true and your devils disappear!
I too took part in the contest. Love your advice, I do still have my fears and have no clue when I’ll ever attempt to get over them. Of course I don’t know how I would either. I’m fearful of small spaces, heights and bridges. lol. But I agree, the moment you can get past any fear it opens doors and sounds like you are just discovering some many doors opening up for you. Good luck in 2007.
Great post indeed, I have you on my Bloglines from the Pavlina forums so I thought I commented already but I guess I just read ;). Have a wonderful holiday!
We also participated in this project, stop on by if you get a chance!
That’s a great post - very hero’s journey. Thanks for commenting on my blog and I’ll keep reading to see where your journey takes you.
That’s an excerpt about fear here-
Star Wars Episode I - The Curry Saga
Yoda: How feel you ? Afraid are you ? Afraid to lose I think, hmmm?
Tigerfish: What has that got to do with anything in the kitchen?
Yoda: Everything! Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate.
Tigerfish: I do not fear cooking, I will try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do… or do not. There is no try.
May the Force be with you, the Blo-gedi way
http://teczcape.blogspot.com/2006/12/star-wars-vs-stark-wok-jedi-to-make.html
Always nice to find some other younger (ie: in their earlier 20’s)bloggers out there who care a bit about decent writing instead of just MySpace connections! Found you through Pro-blogger and think I’ll add you to my ever increasing feed-list.
Great post! You deserve to win one of those prizes!
Thanks for the inspiration. I couldn’t agree more with your philosophy.
Great post. You deserve some prize. Have a blast and great year 2007
You know, the only real failure is giving up. What we usually perceive as failures are just ways of learning what is right for us.
Failure in itself is a dirty word, because it assumes a finality - I tried, and I failed, so I stopped.
Life doesn’t stop. Failure is only a problem in the context of your ego, and your ego is just a stuck up pain in the ass anyways. So the sooner you can learn to ignore its pitiful squeaks of protest, the better off you’ll be!
Thx for the comment on the yoga. I actually have gotten some DVD’s in the past….now I have to take them of the wrappers!
As for success/risks and failures…don’t think of the word failure, just rename it “learning experiences” and it won’t seem so bad!
You’ll never know your full potential if you don’t reach out and take a risk now and then. Best of luck to you, and I enjoyed reading your entry. Deb/Jersey Girl
Great post, great site, thanks for visiting mine too. (Click my name below to see my group writing post).
Jennifer, you’re on my feedreader now too. You write well, and have a good passion for the topic!
Hi Jennifer. Great and timely post. Fear is the greatest enemy of success. Thanks for the inspiration.
(Imported comment from Typepad platform)
On February 13, 2007 at 12:13 PM, sfwriter wrote;
“i came across your blog searching for a quote on “courage to fail” my friend told me yesterday.
great post! i’ve made a list of my fears and im working through them in therapy. and it’s helped a lot. but i still have so much to do. thanks for inspiring!”