20 Nov Why is it Important to Talk About Failure?
Of all the things in the world to hold a festival about, failure seems an odd choice. But failure is one of our biggest fears in life. Talking about our failures openly actually inspires three positive phenomena in our lives and the lives of others: insight, understanding and innovation.
Insight
When you fail big, it’s often tempting to hide it. You tuck the shame and self-doubt down into yourself, or just forge ahead without dwelling on your feelings. But pulling those often painful memories out and examining them offers a learning opportunity. It’s not just about unpacking what you did wrong; it’s about coming to know your motivations, habits, and choices that lead to failures. When you come to terms with one failure, it’s easier to avoid the next one.
Understanding
The reason talking about your failures helps you avoid them is that it teaches you something. Maybe it’s a lesson about humility, or organization, or taking outcomes for granted. However it comes to you, accept it as best you can. Applying these lessons to our actions is far more difficult that it sounds. Some personal elements that lead us to failure are habitual. Only with understanding of how they impact us can we be mindful when they emerge and start to sabotage us.
Innovation
“Necessity is the mother of invention” is a phrase that originated in England sometime in the late Middle Ages. As they grew toward the Renaissance, our ancestors understood that to fail meant something difficult, but also something magical: the ability to try again in a new way. Failure inspires us to step outside our comfort zones and take control. Once a project, invention, or relationship has gone bust, a second attempt has the benefit of all the understanding from the first attempt.
Is there a failure from your past you want to re-attempt, or move beyond? We’re here to help spark your insight, grow your understanding, and inspire your innovation. Join us December 9 to celebrate the best and worst in all of us.
For more information about Fail Fest 2015 or for tickets, visit failfest.us.
Written by our sponsor Metonymy Media. Metonymy is a union of creative writers dedicated to serving companies and agencies with practical and effective content marketing strategies for growth and success.