The Importance of Failing Small
Making mistakes is fine as long as they aren’t big enough to prevent you from making future mistakes.
For the longest time I have felt that I am too young to be sharing my thoughts online because I believed that it would be of little value to the world. For some reason or another, writing an article seemed like something you do once you are older and have (mostly) everything figured out. It is only recently, with the pandemic raging, that I have come to understand that the vast majority of us do not, in fact, have it figured out.
Always do what you are afraid to do. — Popularized by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Change is the Only Constant
Over the past few months this perception has faded as our expectations have been flipped upside down. We have come to understand that the only constant is that our journey has a definite beginning and it ends at an indefinite time. What we make of our lives in between these two points is entirely up to tolerance for risk or rather our ability to embrace discomfort (a basic feature not a symptom of life).
It may be cliché but discomfort is a remarkable motivator. Ideally, it forces us to adapt into a better version of ourselves. Conversely, it can also cause us to retreat into a familiar shell, thus negating any discovery we would otherwise make.
Playing the Fool
We all know the feeling of ineptitude when we try something for the first time. Sooner or later we come to the understanding that there was nothing to fear.
On the other hand, we can also come against mental blocks which stop us dead in our tracks. It is at these points that our tolerance for risk reaches a boiling point. We simply can’t afford the embarrassment or shame of looking like a fool.
That’s the point. Play the fool. — Ethan Hawke
Personally, it was the fear of judgment that has until now stopped me from publishing. What if I was wrong? What if the assumptions I made turned out to be false? What if people thought I was soft for writing?
What if this and what if that but what for?
These questions bounced around in my subconscious until reality set in: all things are in a constant state of flux. Our minds, like the universe, are constantly changing. Our ideas clash and come together to form new and exciting combinations. Our personality evolves with age, and we aren’t the same people we were fives years ago. After all, who would want to?
Ultimately these are not new problems. They are very same sorts of questions that can arise when we make any decision: some may not like it, some may, and the majority won’t even care. That’s okay.
Aside
I am not someone who is afraid to speak his mind yet the thought of etching my words into eternity left a rather uneasy feeling. My mistakes would be there for all posterity and eventually I had to decide that it didn’t matter. If it weren’t for my mistakes I would never learn.
Like any “considerable” change, life will still go on and soon enough this will become a part of who I am. It’s simply a part of my character development.
Failing for a Better Understanding
I am a big believer in the idea that you can’t or at least shouldn’t knock something before you try it. This is a mentality that has stuck with me ever since being introduced to the above song. As silly as it may be the message is the same: it is only through personal experience that you can decide if something is or isn’t for you.
The reason this matters is that trying things like writing an article is a low stakes way of making progress. It is through constant experimentation and iteration that you gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your aptitudes, and your genuine interests.
The Outcome
There are three different outcomes: 1) you enjoy it, 2) you don’t or 3) you can’t decide. These results simplify your next step. If your results are numbers 1 or 3 do more of it, if 2 do less of it. Repeat until you find what you’re looking for.
This process of elimination can be a massive time saver if your only other alternative is to sit and ponder about what you want to do with your life. Thinking alone won’t yield a fool proof answer. In finding out what you don’t like you will be closer to finding work that feels like play. That right there is a step in the right direction.
Main Takeaway
If you are wondering whether or not you should try…you probably should. The worst possible outcome is that you fail.
My mom subscribed to my email list and you should too. Click here for more interesting insights.
Inspirations
- Deep Dive: How to be a professional — with Seth Godin
- Life Explained in 27 Seconds by Casey Neistat
- Advice to a Young Man That Many of You Need
- Give yourself permission to be creative by Ethan Hawke
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered Legal Advice. Please consult a professional before making any major decisions.
