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Failure

What has "failure" taught you spiritually?
18 Responses
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547913 tn?1317355667

                           "Win as if you were used to it, lose as
                             if you enjoyed it for a change."
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547913 tn?1317355667

                "Many of life's failures are people who didn't realize
                 just How Close they were To Success when they gave up."  

                 "Our most severe weakness lies in giving up. The Most Certain
                 Way To Succeed is Always, Always, Always, Try Just One More
                 Time!!!!"
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Avatar universal
Success is such a sweet tragedy of life that it teaches - "It is good to let others win and enjoy watching them bask in the glory, only to find that the fruits of success lasted so momentarily, that it is finally time to climb the mountain again to attain even more success sweeter and lasting longer than the previous one - the satiation is just not reached till death arrives and it is found all success meant nothing in the end."
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1077863 tn?1279055963
Boast not in oneself, but boast in the Lord <3
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me <3
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Avatar universal

As I am becoming to realise, you have a gift for inspiring deep reflections within me. I think there are many people on this site who are also touched by your sensitivity, compassion and genuiness.

Failure. It's taken me a HUGE amount of time to begin to understand that Success/Failure are 2 words we use to interpret a situation. That means it is a perception only.

This has helped me enormously. Because now when I perceive I have Failed (and then feel all those negative emotions as a direct consequence of my belief) I can slowly, painstakingly begin the process of uncovering each core belief  which drives that sense of worthlessness.

Because I have gained a small understanding that a perception/belief is only a practised thought. (as it's repeated endlessly throughout our lives). knowing that it is only a thought, helps me remember the power we all have to direct our own thoughts.

They can be changed!!!!!!!!!!!    ...............     RELIEF ............ Yay !!!!

And then it's back to the drawing board and start over ...

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Avatar universal
:-))))  Karey.  I think you see what you have also :-)))  

I lived with such a sense of failure for so long as an unwanted tenant.  At times it felt like a 1,000 horses wanted out of the gate at the same time and none could get through.

Now I think I realize the "stop" was there for a reason.  I used to say that I reached the borders of madness....that fine line of creativity/madness that others say is there.  I could go no further on my own steam........

I think now that God gently let me tired out....my term for failure at this moment in this sentence.  

How many times do we reach for something only to find it too hot or too cold or too sharp???

Failure has a bad rap sheet by so many.  When my DH tried to run a business he surrounded himself with all sorts of sayings, pictures to visualize what he wanted (a lexus...lol) and I can remember Steve Schultz leaving a message frequently quoting the following:  Failure is not an option.

For some reason it rankled me as I saw it as a shackle.  Anyone see it different?

FAILURE is not an option.

So I tucked that word away as it was too fresh in my wounds and now feel strong enough to face it in its nakedness.

Thank each of you for what you have shared as I am being blessed in the process :-)))))
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675347 tn?1365460645
If we fail, we can always try again. And sometimes if we fail, we may not be seeing right. We may have actually succeeded to do something we aren't aware of at the time. Or sometimes (it depends what it is) we could actually be going down the right path by NOT doing what we set out to do. If we set a goal, how do we really know that is the right thing for us in the long run?

I'll give you an example: You want to study Law. You can't get through the exams. They are too much to cope with. You fail, and you are miserable about it, think you're no good, beat yourself up about it. Eventually, admitting failure, you go to get a job doing something else instead. You get on with that job, and it opens other doorways, to help people, meet a special person, or to find fulfilment in other ways you may never have found otherwise.
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Avatar universal
I guess it would have to be at a time in my life that was just very bad,I can remember looking onto a mirror crying & it wasnt until I saw myself I realized just how strong I had really been for so long .I really believed I had been weak the whole time.But it had been so long since I had cried.
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Avatar universal

I think you are very perceptive. The relief after tears. It's indescribable isn't it?

Tears are healing and I thoroughly recommend a jolly good cry as often as needed.

Repression is crippling. I have extremelly high blood pressure as a result of storing long-kept emotions. I must have cried a river in the last year, but boy oh boy, did I need it !!

Congratulations! I think you did a marvellous job pivoting the meaning. YES !  You are STRONG !!!

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Avatar universal
Lisa :-))  Very touching and "thank you for sharing" :-))))

Tears reflect the heart.  Tears say we have a heart :-))  There are tears of frustration, tears of relief, tears of pain and sorrow......

I remember watching a movie with Melanie G. in it about a Jewish community.  I think it was a Stranger among us.  A line caught my attention and it had to do with the following:  God counts the tears of women.  It was supposed to be from the Kabbalah.

I thought it was so beautiful.  I, then, turned to looking up tears in the bible.  I found them in there too.  Tears are everywhere.

Failure is a teacher.  Failure has many messages.  Wisdom comes with failure.  Timing, methodology, presentation, delivery, intent.......direction.....so much.  We often miss it because of the brainwashing that "failure is not an option"...that it means..."loser, loserrrrrrrrr......".

Maybe it is the 101st time that it is tried, that it will work.  Maybe it is time to move on in a new direction........

:-/
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334400 tn?1276894313
We are not in control after all. I only think I am. It is God who controls us and our outcome. Of course I had to learn this from the school of hard knocks. I quit trying to please everyone in my family of origin. You Dammed if you do and Dammed if you don't. So my real lesson here is that I need to be who I am, not who they expect me to be. I am much more calm and not on defense any more. Released form that turmoil.
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325405 tn?1262290178
All I can say is thank you Lord for giving us Jesus... because in the end, I'm a failure and with Jesus, it doesn't matter!   So, what does matter is that I try to live the  life that God intends for me to live and use the gifts that he gave me and live the best I can for His purposes.  Now, I fail there too... but that doesn't mean I don't stop trying to live like that.  And God does love us.  That is comforting.
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Avatar universal

Jesus would not see you as a failure. His message was of love and compassion.

Take heart from his teachings. He KNOWS you are perfect, just as you are.

I think you are very wise to put your faith and trust in God.

God Bless You
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Avatar universal

God has given you many gifts. Because He loves you He will not judge anything you do.
All He wants you to do is to love yourself, and through the expression of that love, to Find His Grace.

You are so clever to appreciate that God wants you to be only Yourself. He created you for this very purpose.I see that you are finding the value and comfort in believing this.

I wish you great happiness.
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Avatar universal

I believe you are absolutely right in what you say here.

Giving up expectations of success, often leads to new-found awakenings and gifts.

I try to redifine failure as something I needed to listen to. Turns out most 'perceived' failures are wisdom-gainers...

I sense you see it like this too.

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334400 tn?1276894313
Thanks!

I had to quit failing for myself. I was trying to be excepted in my family. I quit beating a  dead horse. It is now up to them. I will not fight to belong in my family. I am who I am and they need to see it that way. It is up to them now.
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1077863 tn?1279055963
Failure has made me humble and more dependant on God than self.  Sometimes more determined to get up brush myself off and try harder seeking Gods Will.
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Avatar universal
Can't resist sharing this :

“Failure is nature’s plan to prepare you for great responsibilities.” –Napoleon Hill

:-)))
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