We All Fail More Than We Win

We Show Our Wins More Than Our Failures

Let's be real - life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. As much as we'd like to think we're crushing it 24/7, the truth is, we probably fail way more often than we succeed. But you'd never know it from looking at social media, where everyone seems to be living their best #blessedlife.

The thing is, failure is a normal and necessary part of the human experience.

As the saying goes, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." But in our Insta-perfect world, it's easy to forget that behind every win are usually a whole bunch of face-plants along the way.

I'll be the first to admit I've had my fair share of epic fails:

• I have started about four companies that have failed, and that didn't stop me from beginning others, but it hurts a bit as you bet on things and they don't work out

• Or when I spent months preparing for a big presentation at work, only to get so nervous that I froze up and forgot everything I was going to say.

• And let's not forget the disastrous DIY haircut I gave myself during lockdown. Yikes.

But you know what? Each of those failures taught me something important. The company's failures taught me to know my limits (and stick to what I know). The presentation failure reminded me that even with tons of prep, sometimes things don't go as planned—and that's okay. And the haircut fiasco? Well, it turns out I'm not cut out to be a stylist, but I did discover that hats are my friend.

The point is that failure is not only inevitable; it can be a good thing.

As Winston Churchill famously said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

Every time we fail, we have an opportunity to learn, grow, and become better versions of ourselves.

But in a world where everyone is curating their highlight reel, it's easy to feel like you're the only one not winning at life.

According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, social media use is linked to increased feelings of loneliness, envy, anxiety, and depression. It's no wonder when all we see are people's perfectly filtered successes.

So, how can we break free from the highlight reel mentality and embrace the power of failure?

Here are a few tips:

1. Celebrate your failures.
Instead of hiding them away, share your failures with others. You might be surprised to find how many people can relate and have similar stories.

2. Reframe failure as a learning opportunity.
As Thomas Edison famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Every failure is a chance to learn and grow.

3. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Instead of striving for an unattainable ideal, celebrate the small wins and incremental improvements along the way.

4. Practice self-compassion.
When you fail (and you will), be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same understanding and encouragement you would offer a good friend.

5. Remember that everyone fails.
Even the most successful people have experienced many setbacks and rejections on their way to the top. Failure is a normal part of the human experience.

At the end of the day, it's not about avoiding failure altogether - that's impossible. It's about learning to embrace it, learn from it, and keep going anyway.

So the next time you face a failure, big or small, remember that you're in good company. We all fail more than we win - the key is to keep showing up, keep learning, and keep growing. And who knows? Your biggest failure today might just be the setup for your greatest success tomorrow.

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