"But What If I Fail?"

In my last post I talked about how to create your own confidence - how to get out there and try new things even when you're scared or unsure.

I know what some of you are probably thinking...

"But what if I fail?"

Good! Failing means you took a risk! You put yourself out there. You did more than most of the population who plays it safe.

Failing at something doesn't make you a failure.

Did you learn something? And more importantly, did you learn things that will make you smarter and stronger for the future? If you did, was it really a failure?

Stella decided to go head over heels in the middle of a show. Oops - yeah, we definitely scored a 3 on this movement...

I can't tell you how many times I've failed. I've blogged about a few of them... here and here. Hell, the first time I tried to launch my training business, I failed miserably. I ran out of money, didn't have enough experience (even though I thought I did), couldn't keep it going, and had to get a "real" sales job for awhile until I could figure things out.

But every time I've had a less than successful trip down centerline (or a less than successful life moment!), I'm always able to come away with something. Maybe not the score I wanted or the ribbon or placing I was hoping for... but I always learn something about my horse, something about myself, something about how to manage situations, you name it. I learn something that will help me be better for the next time.

And would you believe these are the score sheets and prizes from the same show pictured above? Yeah, me neither! Because I didn't let the one bad moment ruin my entire ride. I let it go and kept riding. The rest of the test went well!

If we're learning, we're growing. And growth is never a failure. The moment may sting but you will be ten times better for the future.

"Failures are things you learn from. You have to be willing to pick yourself up and go on." -Melinda Gates

Never mistake an opportunity for growth as failure.