• LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US

8WomenDream

Dream Big Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONNECT
You Are Here Home » HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM » Stumbling Toward Happiness: Or How to Fail Your Way to Success

in HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM

Stumbling Toward Happiness: Or How to Fail Your Way to Success

Last updated on November 6th, 2019 at 12:37 am

I have left a string of failures behind me in my life as I pursue my dreams, as well as, of course, many successes.

Let’s start with the failures.

Some were colossal or felt that way at the time. They include:

  • Crash-and-burn relationships, including one in particular in which I acted all of 12 as I alternately pouted, begged, praised and cursed the man who was leaving me. I was madly in love. When he decided he was done with me, I fell apart completely. I was 35 and emotionally right back in junior high.
  • A first attempt at applying for grad school years ago, in which I got rejected by not one, not two, but five universities. Ouch! (Up to that point in my life I was so accustomed to academic success that it seemed inconceivable to get a “no” from one, let alone all of the schools where I applied).
  • Numerous jobs I’ve applied for and not gotten.
  • Popular magazines that rejected my query letters, when I’d decided I wanted to write for Redbook or “O.”
  • Men I’ve wanted to date who didn’t want me.
  • There was also, along the way, a failed marriage. We’ll just call it my “starter marriage.”
  • And, of course, the three months of my life, at age 24, when I didn’t want to live at all. When I tried to take my own life. (There is a much longer story behind all of this that has to do with the years of trauma that preceded this depression. But I’ll save that for another time).

As I write in my poem, Ring the bells that still can ring, surviving a suicide attempt was:

…my greatest/failure, the one I am most grateful for.
Somehow just surviving made all other forms of failure pale in comparison, and made risk-taking easier.

Because — here’s the thing.

No matter how many times I try and “fail,” it is a chance to learn and grow. It may lead to the next great thing. And, there’s always another to chance to give it another shot — because I am ALIVE! I love what Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, has to say about failure: “First, allow me to confess that I have failed at 90 percent of the things I have ever attempted.”

“Failure rarely bothers me,” he adds. “I always learn something in the process, and the screw-ups provide a nice backdrop of humility for the few times when things work out.”

What an awesome attitude. What if our “failures” were celebrated, fun even? “Ah, that didn’t work, let’s try again!” In the end, life really is a grand experiment. If you are not “failing” at all, maybe you are not trying enough new things, or taking enough risks! Ask any wildly successful person – “failures” are just a part of the journey to success. It is just a matter of using failure to your advantage. As you encounter failures and setbacks, you learn what works and what does not.

Embrace your failures and use them as stepping stones on the path towards your greatest dreams.

Lisa Powell Graham

Tell your friends!

Filed Under: HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM

Some of the posts on 8WD contain affiliate links or links to purchase products or programs from 8WD contributors. This means 8WD or the contributor may make a small commission if you make a purchase. The 8WD affiliate links help offset the cost of hosting this website and the contributor links help support the dreams of the contributor. Please check out the 8WD Legal Page for more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

« Little Known Goal Setting Tips to Achieve Your Big Dream
Equestrian Dreams: How to Assess Your Riding Confidence »

Check it out

  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

Recent Dream Stories

  • Winter Solstice Celebrations: What to Do With 1 Minute More?
  • Starting Over as a Single Mom Wasn’t My Big Dream
  • Warning: Big Dream to Be a Motivational Speaker Won’t Always Obey Your Plans
  • Dance to Relieve Stress to Focus on Your Big Dream
  • 6 Tips to Avoid Get Rich Quick Scams as a Public Speaker
  • A Dream to Spread MLK’s Message of Love
  • Best Goal Setting Advice that Actually Works
  • 8 Solstice Traditions for Focusing on Your Big Dream this Year
Catherine Hughes on Dealspotr
Catherine Hughes
@8WomenDream
Let’s collaborate
Powered by Dealspotr

Inspiration

8 WOMEN DREAM | COPYRIGHT All RIGHTS RESERVED © 2023 ·