Failure Can Also be Success
I believe that in life, it’s not always worth worrying too much about whether we’ll succeed or not. Maybe what matters more is simply trying things, without being overly focused on what the outcome will be. Sometimes, even failure can be seen as success. Failure can be an important step—or even a necessary piece—on the path to something greater. It may guide us toward the path that is truly meant for us. Or perhaps, in some cases, we were never really meant to succeed, in the way we imagined. Before I haven’t thought about failure in such positive way.
What does success mean?
Everyone probably has their own interpretation, shaped by the values and priorities they hold. Generally, success is seen as achieving a goal or reaching a desired outcome. Often, it’s measured by external standards—results, achievements, recognition from others. Yet success can also be a deeply personal experience, where what truly matters is how we ourselves perceive the situation or its outcome.
Inner success may sometimes appear as failure on the outside. But at times, success means overcoming fear, learning from failure, or having the courage to walk your own path—even when it goes against others’ expectations. These inner victories, which may not be visible to anyone else, can be far more meaningful than any external accomplishment. I believe it’s much more important to feel content with your own life and circumstances than to chase external approval through the appearance of success.
The wound of failure
I recognize the wound of failure in myself, and I know many other Finns carry it too. We often avoid failure at all costs. By this “wound,” I mean that I have, both consciously and unconsciously, done everything in my power not to fail before. I’ve acted that way because I thought failure would mean I wasn’t good enough or lovable in the eyes of others. I also thought that I am only worthy when I succeed. But that’s of course not the truth. I’ve worked gently with this wound and continue to care for it—with gentle love.
There are times in life when we reach for something and still don’t succeed. There can, of course, be many reasons for that. I personally believe strongly in divine guidance and I think that sometimes we are led to fail—for a good reason. I feel and know that in this life I am protected as I stumble and experiment. By this I mean I mean that I am given situations and opportunities to try different things—even when they don’t go as planned. I want to live this life through experiences, across as broad a spectrum as possible. Sometimes we take big steps in the wrong direction and fail—but in the end, everything always works out. Perhaps in this life I’ve been given possibilities to experience and witness as many different things as possible, with failures included.
I believe that failures—whether small or big—shouldn’t be taken too personally. Of course, it’s good to look in the mirror, to understand where a particular outcome came from and how we arrived at it. But once you’ve done the reflecting, it’s not always very fruitful to get stuck there. Life can take surprising turns, and with those turns, our priorities may shift. It’s also good to remember that we’re always allowed to change our minds.
Personally, I’ve failed at many things in this life—and I’m grateful for that. Those failures have brought me some of my greatest life lessons. Let this be a reminder to us all that failure is more than okay. <3