We are constantly bombarded by so many success stories we imagine that they must be the norm and, that we are the only one not "succeeding". We are stuck in the comparison trap every single time we open social media. Every time someone wins an award we start comparing ourselves to them and demanding more of us so we can win too.
On the false myth of success at any cost we build reward systems, programs and offerings to “support” people in the illusion of never failing or help people bounce back and never surrender, marching from one achievement to another. We have grown unable to accept failure. If someone fails, we immediately jump to the conclusions that they were not that good or that they didn’t push hard enough.
No life is free of failure.
People have failed throughout history but the way failure has been interpreted has changed throughout the ages in fascinating ways.
We judge ourselves by what we do – not what we are.
We are not our achievements alone (for more read here on how Achievement flows out of Alignment). We need to develop an healthier relationship with ourselves and the internalised voices of those who have conditioned with demands our definitions of failure and success.
I would like to share with you the un-edited version of a poem I wrote on failure and success. If you have a copy of The Whisper you know this version didn’t make it into the published book. Yet, when I wrote it, it answered to the question "Is lack of failure success?"
You might be thinking: “Why should I read a failed poem?” As a published author (in English which is not my mother tongue) I fear the failure of my language like a virulent disease every single time I set to write anything. The only vaccine I know against this fear is actually sharing (writing) vulnerably about what it feels and invite others to inquire more and judge less.
Can you inquire and answer creatively what failure and success look like for you? Please feel free to share your un-edited, unpolished outcome with me or anyone you trust.
May this un-edited poem which failed to be published on the final book be of inspiration to you.
Is lack of failure success?
Sometimes that bump on the road
Happens for a reason
A very simple one
Putting me back on the right track
Success is never enough
Flaws are fatal
The obsession of perfectionism
In the land of crowded mind’s chatter
I sat down
Afraid to ask
For what I wanted
For what I needed
I fixated on the absolute essence of success and failure
What if they overlap
Failing to quiet my mind
I succeeded in writing two lines
Reminding myself I could simply be me
Forget the achiever
Abandon perfectionism
I want to have a relationship with both
Failure and success
The pen gives me the permission
To love them both
Light and shadow
Wrap them in one single hug
The Whisper dreams of connection
The Whisper dreams of affinity
The Whisper creates poetry from the ashes of suffering
I visit this place
In between failure and success
Where I met them both and
That led me to write these words
What poetry can you make from the ashes of what you thought being a failure? Can you reframe it as a critical moment for your renewal and progress? If you do so what changes in your stories of failure and success?
If you’re interested to learn more about our knowledge and experience and discuss how we could help through our consultancy, workshops, and talks, drop us a line at fateme@rnewb.com.
Consider also subscribing to the newsletter to stay updated and receive weekly inspiration on more heART for a more human Business.