Failure is a privilege
In leadership, we say quotes such as “Fail early. Fail fast. Fail often.” Failures allow us to learn from our mistakes, to bounce back stronger. Now we know better. No doubt it is important, it is essential to the fulfillment of one’s potential. However, looking at the world as a whole, not everyone will be lucky enough to have this endless amount of chances to try, to make mistakes, to take risks. There are people who are supporting their whole family. There are people who are barely making ends meet. There are people who do not even have their basic needs. Perhaps it might even be the last chance for someone to try. Perhaps it might be the only choice a person has. Not everyone has the opportunity to fail. Not everyone can say, “I’ll just do it tomorrow,” or “I’ll try again next time.”
Reversing the outlook, can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone did have the chance to take risks? To fail? To succeed? Imagine a world where everyone has the opportunity to dream. Everyone’s basic needs are met, we live in a society that accepts change, is open, and supports an individual’s goals. It sounds like a utopia. Maybe because we are so far from this picture. Currently, to fail, to dream is a privilege. In an ideal world, it shouldn’t be. The external factors of a country’s economy, government, and a person’s lack of basic needs and financial stability are some of the main factors that hinder people from being able to actualize their dreams. This harsh truth is frustrating to accept.
If the divisive and competitive nature of the world did not exist, would we be more proactive and supportive in helping one another in our individual self-actualizations?
Although we cannot fully change, or at least change the world in a blink of an eye to how we see fit, we can believe there is always a way, there’s always a solution. For what we can control, yes, there is always a way. However, for everything out of our control, we do what we can. We adapt. We adjust. We accept. We make do. When you think about it, we create and solve our own problems as humans.
We understand that the world is far from perfect, far from the “ideal society.” Everyone has their own opinion of what is ideal. Yet, solidarity, for people to work together towards a common goal is what can unite us. Respect for one another, and the opportunity to dream, to fail, to fulfill our potential, is a right that should not be denied to anyone, regardless of background.
Failure is a privilege, but let’s hope for the day it becomes the life as people know it, for people to wake up with a dream they know they can make happen. The world is our responsibility, and the only way we could truly make it better, is TOGETHER.
