Failing vs. Failure

Something you have to remember is that your teachers really don’t want you to fail. When I was a teacher in the public school system, I gave my students many opportunities to improve their grades. Even if they failed a test, I offered test corrections for an improved score and extra assignments they could complete to boost their grades.

You see, when a student fails at something—whether it’s an assignment in school or another goal in life—they often have a tendency to label themselves as a failure. They see one unsuccessful attempt as something that will define their identity going forward. That is simply not true—failing doesn’t make you a failure.

As long as you have breath in your lungs, there are opportunities to improve and try again. When we decide that we are failures, that is the moment we stop trying to reach our goals, and that is when growth stops. Our identity is not found in our failed attempts, but in our ability to get up, dust ourselves off, and put in the effort required to improve.

Think of all the wonderful inventions and amazing businesses we would not have if inventors and entrepreneurs had given up. We don’t look at their hundreds of failed attempts and think, “That person was awful.” Instead, we remember their perseverance and their success. This week, find your identity in your ability to keep going, keep pushing, and keep improving throughout your life. Your success is not found in one moment, but in every attempt you make.

Want to set and achieve your goals? Do you need support mentally, emotionally, and physically to find success? Our classes at Trinity Martial Arts do just that. Located in Hopewell Junction, we teach traditional martial arts and practical self-defense skills to students in East Fishkill and throughout the Hudson Valley. Reach out today to schedule your free trial class and begin your martial arts journey.