Failure is an inevitable facet of life, yet most of us do little to prepare for it. As a result, when we are hit by this unexpected storm, we are not able to handle the turbulence. This causes even the smallest of setbacks to take a toll on our mental health.

            From the very beginning youngsters are taught this notion that a “successful outcome” is the only valid and socially acceptable option and failure is always associated with being something grim and distressing. This connection has made people so indifferent to the concept of “failure”, that one is pressured to uphold the unrealistic expectation of being “perfect” in everything. This idea of perfection has reached to such heights that we are tuned to focus ONLY at the result. Even schools teach subjects to students with the purpose of completing the extensive syllabus to get good marks. But by the end of the year, the students don’t really learn anything. In fact, the worth of the child is established just by those numbers and not by the hard work that was put or the knowledge gained. Getting an adequate result is also criticised because there is someone whose result is better. Instead of motivating people who have fallen, society pushes them further down, chipping away at their self-esteem. This unrealistic need of ‘BEING THE BEST’ instead of ‘TRYING YOUR BEST’ is something I don’t understand because the truth is, there will always be someone better. That is something I learned the hard way and regret not realising before.

            Imagine if this wasn’t the case. Why should we label a failed attempt as unacceptable or disappointing, when there is always a chance of something not being a success? If we are properly prepared for and are open to possibilities, then failure isn’t a bad thing at all. It is actually an opportunity to learn and gain experience. The only thing that makes it bad are stereotypes of what success is defined as, when actually, the reality is that success as a concept, is SUBJECTIVE.

            The question then arises: how to try handling setbacks? According to me, we should be prepared for the worst too. I am not saying that don’t expect success or stop dreaming or don’t work towards your goals. Work on yourself and your goals in such a way that minor setbacks don’t derail you from your course. Many people are of the view that being ready for shortcomings means that we are expecting failure and therefore, it leads to negativity. On the contrary, while I believe that putting one’s BELIEF and OPTIMISM to achieve one’s goals is very essential, it is equally important to keep in mind the various possibilities that could occur. There needs to be a balance between being POSITIVE and being REALISTIC. Our goal shouldn’t be only focused on results, but also learning; and ‘failing is the first step in learning to be successful’. In the words of Socrates, “Falling down is not failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.” Hence, we need to uplift and support people when they fail, instead of just criticising them.

            If this transformation occurs in the minds of people, then there will be much lesser mental health problems like depression and anxiety too. The tuning of our mind to the right interpretation ‘that failure is a comma and not a full stop’, will help many students, business persons, office goers and homemakers to be confident of themselves and thereby encourage them to not give up.