Carpe Today – Fail!
Fail at something today! On the surface that might seem like a fairly negative way to approach your day; but, in actuality, it could not be more liberating. In my experiences working with gifted students, one reoccurring truth has troubled me. They are terrified of failure. Now most people if given the choice would prefer to succeed; however, wanting to succeed and being afraid to fail are not necessarily the same things. Failure in many instances begets eventual success. When asked about his failures inventing a light bulb, Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed. I just found 10,000 ways that wont work.” Being willing to fail epically is a trait that separates innovators from conformists. I can still remember what a friend of mine said to me one time after I proudly recounted my day on the ski slopes and how I had not wiped out one time. “You weren’t trying then,” he said. Don’t be afraid to fall down today. Try something you aren’t good at. You may find skills you didn’t know you had. At the very least, you will feel more alive.
