Words We Heard: ‘We’re going to face failure.’

Failure! A fun and light-hearted topic.

It can be hard to accept that it is necessary, but most of us are at the point in our lives in which we have experienced "big” failures that have shaped us into who we are today. It seems silly to believe that we would never be challenged in our daily lives, whether that be with a work task or a contentious conversation. It is easy to say that we should simply overlook these difficulties (because disappointment is valid), but it’s good to remind ourselves that they aid in our personal development.

Imagine if we never tried anything new. My mind tends to jump around in terms of where I want to be in a year or what I’m currently most passionate about. Life would be pretty boring if I didn’t explore those questions and go through a few trial and errors. I’m a big supporter of “failure” because I see it more as a lesson I gained.

-Ellen

• “Of course, we all want to be liked, but when being liked is top priority, we often compromise ourselves. We, women, are not schooled on setting boundaries, which leads to over-commitment, resentments, and all-out exhaustion.” – psychologist Dr. Lauren Hazzouri in an article on Girlboss
• "If you're going to do something, do it properly, or don't do it at all." – supermodel and KORA Organics founder Miranda Kerr, in an interview with Refinery29
• “We are going to face failure. … It's okay to feel sad, angry, and disappointed about failure. This is natural, and faking fine helps no one. This doesn’t mean you should wallow in sadness and give up, but no matter how amazing failure can be in the long run, it's okay to feel not-so-amazing at first. Acknowledge and understand your negative feelings, so you’re able to move on without them.” – Social Good Strategist Rachael Parker-Chavez in her article in Conscious Magazine
• “Reading is one of my great comforts, and I certainly don't believe every book you read should make you squirm or leave you mentally exhausted. But there's a place for uncomfortable books. They're worth keeping around, worth seeking out.” – Woman of Cincy and founder of Make America Read, Hillary Copsey, in a newsletter about a Mississippi school district banning How to Kill a Mockingbird
• “I wish everyone could have a mentor who will always be there for them and act only in their best interest. Try and strive to find one for you.” – Aviatra Accelerators, an organization serving women entrepreneurs