“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”~Nelson Mandela
We have written many times about failing. About how when something goes wrong and we “fail,” we’re not a failure. About failing forward to learn from what’s gone wrong. About failing, and failing, and failing again until you get to the desired result. About our client who, many years ago, proudly exclaimed, “We will make every mistake once.”
We have been taught and conditioned to be afraid of falling and failing. We have been conditioned and taught to aim for perfection and to accept nothing less.
That is not possible, nor does it usually get us the most powerful result.
Life is a series of successes and non-successes. Of aiming for a goal or a prize and sometimes making it and sometimes not. Of falling off the horse or bicycle or balance beam and getting back up and trying again. Some of our greatest athletes have shown and taught us this.
Imagine how freeing it might be if we allowed ourselves and others to fail and fall and learn as we go. Imagine the mountains we might scale and the projects we might push forward. Imagine how glorious it would be.
Fall. Get up. Keep going.
How have you fallen and risen to move forward?
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If you enjoyed this post, you can read more like it in our book, The Power of Thoughtful Leadership: 101 Minutes To Being the Leader You Want To Be, available on Amazon.
For support in getting back up and going on, contact Lisa at lkohn@chatsworthconsulting.com.
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