Failure Is Not an Option When You’re Training for Resilience
Ok, you've probably heard, read, or watched somewhere
"Failure is not the end"
The thing is - this phrase is not just a cliche or something we say to make ourselves feel better. There is actual science behind it -
Let's break it down.
Scenario 1:
You go to work.
You live life.
You do what you're comfortable doing and what you know how to do.
Chances of failure - Maybe 1%.
Scenario 2:
You go to work.
You live life.
You're thinking about starting something:
A business
A project
A big, bold idea
Chances of failure? Easily 50%, maybe more.
First notice this -
Scenario 1: No Action = Low Failure Rate
Scenario 2: Action = Higher Failure Rate
Failure happens when we take action and this is why many people avoid action to avoid failure. However, here is what happens as well when you avoid action - >
You're safe. You have stability. You're not learning something new. You're not challenging yourself. You're not growing. You're not improving. Because you're safe.
So what happens when you take action and you fail?
You attempt something new -
that probably most people are afraid of trying or even thinking about.
you take a risk and feel the adrenaline flowing which gives you a boost of energy
neurons start firing and your brain is activated
you fail because of a reason (you don't have enough info., you did something wrong, you didn't get help, etc.)
you now know why you failed and have information needed to try again
Now compare that to someone who has not tried:
They have not failed - sure
They haven't learned
They don't know what works or doesn't
They don't know what is possible
They're in the same place they started. And you're not!
And this brings us back to the heart of it:
Failure is not an option when you’re building resilience.
When you don't experience failure you don't actually have a taste of adversity. You have not started collecting data - the patterns- that help you recognize and identify the lessons learned from the experience challenges bring.
This makes you vulnerable and unprepared.
On the other hand, when you do take action and face failure, you build something no one can take away from you.
Perspective
Pattern recognition
Reflective process
Emotional stamina
Confidence grounded in experience
You’ve been through something.
You’ve learned.
You’ve grown.
You’ve proven to yourself that failure isn’t fatal...it’s feedback.
And every time you rise again, you’re not starting from scratch.
You’re starting from experience.
That’s what makes you resilient.
Not the absence of failure...
But your relationship with it.
Ready to build your resilience muscle?
If you’re tired of playing it safe and ready to grow through action (and yes, sometimes failure), I’d love to support your journey.
Join me for an upcoming workshop, book a discovery call, or explore how 1:1 coaching can help you lead with clarity, courage, and resilience.
