“If it’s not exactly like you thought it would be, you think it’s a failure. What about the spectrum of colors in between.”- Sara Evans
As humans, we have certain expectations about things when we have committed or dedicated ourselves to them and things not going as planned can be very disappointing or make us feel like we are a failure. I have been at this point in my life and can say that it's normal to feel disappointed but it doesn't necessarily mean we are a complete failure.
With my experience and understanding of life, I think failure isn't what we think it is. Despite a lot of things not going as planned, I still do not see myself as a failure because at least, I tried. We live in a world where many times the output of our efforts isn't determined by the input. Several times, I have given my very best but got results different from what I expected and this doesn't make me or you a failure because if everything in the world is fair, a lot of people wouldn't be in the situation they are today.
However, it's important to remember that there are often a lot of things in between success and what a lot of us define as failure. The starting point and the finish line isn't what only matters, the series of experiences we gathered between those two point can turn out to be even more valuable than the success we might have achieved in the long run.
Let's take school as an example; what every student celebrates as success is graduating with good grades but between the first day and last day in class, they have gathered knowledge and experience that might be more valuable than just their final results in the long run. A lot of people aren't even working with their results, many who do aren't working in the field they expected but with the experience they have gathered, coping where they find themselves is very possible.
It's okay to recognise and celebrate our success but when the opposite of our expectations happens, we can bank on the range of experiences we have gathered in between the journey if we pay attention and learn a few things.
A long time ago, I figured out that there is a always a reason for every setback I experience and whenever life kicks me down again, I try to figure out why and what values to pick at that place life puts me. Just yesterday, I shared my minimalist journey and stated that everything I have been through adds great value to my future. As of now, life is still not perfect and today's experience will also be of great value tomorrow as well.
It's the same for everyone but we become too bitter when things do not go as planned and just ditch the whole journey forgetting that the experience can be of great value later to us. I can confidently say that at every time I hit a setback, I alway find something valuable and wouldn't tag myself as a failure for any reason.
After chasing a particular job with my coursemate some years ago, things didn't work as planned despite investing more than just the money I didn't even have. This coursemate of mine introduced me to crypto blogging and today, I can confidently say that the reason why the job came into my journey back then was just for me to know about blogging and not to get the job. If I had gotten the job, I wouldn't have known about blogging and when he told me I could make pennies from it, I wasn't bitter about it not meeting my expectations. The funniest part of all is that this guy doesn't blog anymore and I am the only one left in the field among those he introduced the great opportunity to back.
A life without challenge is impossible, there will be disappointment and setbacks at some points where we least expected them but it still doesn't make us a failure. In that spectrum of colours, there can be valuable lessons, personal growth, and unexpected opportunities. Sometimes what initially seems like a failure can lead us to discover new paths or alternative ways of doing things. It's about being open to the possibilities and adding value to ourselves even in challenging situations.
Image were captured by me except stated otherwise