Failing

 

Today I was at a training where we discussed the important intellectual and emotional need to fail.

We talked about "failing forward" which means learning from mistakes but continuing to progress, rather than giving up in despair.

And we talked about how it really isn't starting over, because we have new experiences to guide us if we let them.

We also talked about how when children think they will always be right and always be successful that is incompatible with human experience.  And that creates distress for them because their expectations are not realistic.  The same is true for adults. 

As President Gordon B Hinckley wisely reminded, "Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

We won't always be the winners.  

Not everyone will always like us (although hopefully they will be kind). 

We will get hurt, sick, and sometimes our needs will trump others' and sometimes others' needs will trump ours.

We will make mistakes because we are human.  And it's how we were designed.

It's literally WHY we were provided with a Savior.  

The plan with no failures and sure "success" was falsely offered by Lucifer.  And rejected by our Heavenly Father. 

So remember when things aren't going right it doesn't mean something is "wrong".  It's just time to learn, regroup and lean on the Savior.  And thank Him for the ride!