In praise of failure

Efforts lie at the very foundation of individual and social existence. They remain the consistent force behind the evolution of human societies from primitive foragers to modern ones. Throughout the ages, everyone, regardless of socioeconomic standing, had undertaken efforts towards their respective purposes in life. This is because humankind has an innate propensity of harmonising their lives around their aspirations. Notwithstanding this, not everyone’s every effort brings success. In other words, failures are inescapable and overtly frightening facets of life. Failures result from the gap among the efforts, expectations, outcomes and ambivalent variables.

Since aspirations and subsequent efforts generate expectations of success, the failures unlock the floodgates of miseries in someone’s life. They rock the world and alter the very landscape of one’s relationships, financial stability and psychological well-being. They leave lasting scars on the existence, cognition and behaviours of the struggling souls.

Nevertheless, holding only grudges against failures would lose sight of a complete aspect of the picture i.e. the failures aren’t almost and always horrifying as they are being displayed. They also hold priceless treasure humankind have been cultivating since antiquity. Failures increase the length and breadth of success. Had there been no failures, the world would have been entangled within the blind streets of stagnation. They make us erring and imperfect beings and leave a gap between what we are today and what we can ever become. It is this gap that individuals and societies across time can explore and accomplish. Everything attained across history results from this gap.

The imprints of failures lay the foundation of grand success for many. Failures don’t necessarily point to relative incapability, but they advise better rewards in other but better forms. Today’s civilisational triumph, never seen in history, is the outcome of the long succession of individual and collective failures.

The scope and extent of failings point to the vast probabilities that exist for success ahead. Our determined struggle in the face of failures makes the best among us. We can succeed to the extent of our failures. If embraced with gratitude and steadfastness, failures unleash eternal blessings in the long haul. Failures add phenomenological experience and spice to the outcomes of our long-sought pursuits. A success earned, with little effort, loses its charm sooner than later. Failures cultivate success. The greater the investment, the loftier the dividends.

Moreover, failure builds the strength necessary for braving the grinding realities of life. It also is the key to maturity and wisdom. It makes one think, rethink and out-think the demand and dynamics of life. Since failure makes one introspect on its causes and personal shortcomings, one replaces retrogressive habits with healthier and productive ones. It is also key to compassion. Those who undergo the agonies of failures show the utmost empathy to those of others.

Though not all failures bring success, the monetisation of failures demands their acceptance along with assimilation of the lessons. Failures act as the currency of grand achievements. Failures taste the nerves, patience and resilience of individual and groups. Those who navigate through the tumult of failings cultivate the bountiful rewards.

Though repeated failures cannot bring immediate success, persisting through them promises magnificent outcomes. In most instances, the worth of success is the sum of the failures. This does not, however, imply that one should enjoy failures or deliberately fail. It rather means that failures are full of life-changing lessons and productive individual and social transformations. Therefore, when failures knock at your door, do not get frightened. Instead, open the door as success always disguises itself in failures. And finally, had my academic life not been an epitome of failures, I wouldn’t have been able to pen pieces in this prestigious paper.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2022.

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