failure IS an option

I need to stop thinking so negatively and being so hard on myself, I really do! I've placed such high expectations on myself that the very moment I find that I am unable to meet them, I become disheartened and wallow into depression.

Remember my post entitled cowardice? You can pretty much tell that I am terrified of failing.

But why should this be the case? Why do we often view failure as a negative thing?

Today I learned from my psychologist that we can exert control on our thoughts and actions if we so choose to. And this, she felt, was something that I need to work on; I need to start viewing episodes of failure as positive experiences, rather than as doom and gloom--positive in the sense that we can learn important lessons from them and gain insight into ourselves. Moreover, she suggested that I shouldn't be so afraid to fail in life, for it is through our failures that we become stronger and more resilient.

This is not to say that we should aim no higher than failure nor should we expect to fail. Having a fear of failure only serves to paralyse us, thereby preventing us from reaching our full potential. But, if we can keep in the back of our minds that failure IS an option, then perhaps we can stop being so hard on ourselves and instead focus on the many opportunities that lay ahead.

Now if only I can do as I am told! I can be quite stubborn, you see.