Failure

Devika, a teenager , who just passed her class 12 used to remain very depressed for months as she couldn't get admission in her dream college. Even though she managed to get a decent college in her state, in the back of her mind, she always had the regret...that if she had worked harder , maybe, she would have been in some better college. These thoughts used to disturb her and make her mind fill with regret. Disturbed by her thoughts, she went to her senior Disha's house who was also a very good friend of her. Disha has always been a topper throughout all her years of school life and even in her college. Many of her classmates and juniors look up to her, take advices from her, try to be like her. So, thinking of her, Devika felt that Disha could have been a great adviser to her on how to deal with this situation. 

She went to Disha's house and after some casual conversations, she narrated her entire situation to Disha and asked her on how to deal with it. Listening to her, Disha replied,

"Even though everyone looks up to me as a topper who never failed in her life, even I didn't got results as per my wishes every time. Something or the other went wrong somewhere unexpectedly, which snatched away certain opportunities from me. In certain situations, I felt, I could have done better results had I not taken certain decisions or had I not made certain mistakes. But, amidst all these, I learnt some very important lessons. Let me share those lessons with you. 

 

I feel that failures are as important as success. Unless we fail, we don't understand the value of success. Also, it's only after a failure that we understand that how important it is not be boastful about our success, since it could all be taken away in a blink of an eye. Failure teaches us humility. 

Also, sometimes, after getting repetitive successes we become so comfortable with being successful that we stop putting further efforts to grow more. We feel that we have done enough and the motivation within us to achieve more from our life dies. It is during these times, that, failure is required to make us get out of our comfort zone and push ourselves towards achieving more. Because failure forces us to gear up for success and prove ourselves, but success doesn't. Once we achieve success, we feel like taking rest. But when we fail, we become restless to prove ourselves. 

Throughout all my school life, failure taught me one more important thing... once you fail, you don't cry and regret on your decisions. Rather, you need to get up, analyze your mistakes and make a new plan on how to move towards your goal. Failure has taught me to never regret about yesterday, but to only focus on today.

Failure taught me that, the biggest supporter I have in my darkest times is none other than God and myself. It taught me to handle my tough days alone and be my own biggest cheerleader. 

Although failure is often seen as a dark phase of life, which, everybody fears to face but it is only through failure that we learn the real meaning of life."

Listening to Disha's words like a apt listener, Devika felt mesmerized. She was blown away by the fact that how beautifully Disha explained the importance of a term like "failure" which is seen in a negative light by most people. She felt as if she got relieved from the pain and anxiety that she was facing for the past few weeks. She felt motivated to again start working towards her career, without looking back into the past. She thanked Disha for making her understand the importance of "failure" and bid her goodbye with a smile on her face. She happily walked towards her home while thinking about the the new perspective that she gained towards success, failure and life.