Setting the Sails for Failure or lack thereof

I was recently having dinner with some friends and the word failure popped up.  I have to admit, I have a hard time with that word and how it is used freely by people.  It is one of those words that I do not see in my vocabulary, much like the phrase "I can't".  While on the topic, I started to ponder what it is about the word failure that I had such a hard time with.  What does that word even mean and how can failure be avoided?

So to begin my quest on understanding failure I of course looked up the definition.  Failure: Lack of success.  OK, I am sure you are thinking, yeah I already knew that.  The opposite of success is failure right?  But let's think about that for a moment, shall we? 

The definition of success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.  So by looking at the term success we can see the formula for avoiding failure.  Living with purpose, and more importantly in that definition is the understanding that you must set aim onto something.  In order not to fail you have to charter a course, to set sail and reach for a goal, using "purpose" as the wind in your sails.

So what is purpose?  Purpose is defined as the reason for which something is done or for which something exists.  Now I am not going to tell you how to find your purpose, but purpose can be found in relationships, your career, business endeavors, and even physical fitness goals.  A relationship with the purpose of creating a family and spending your last days together, a purpose of spending a few years at a company and moving on, or to reach your ideal weight.  Any goal that you set - has a purpose.

So how does that help me not to fail?  The secret is understanding that, much like a ship, you have to be prepared to change course and change your target.  In science the term failure is used quite frequently to describe the results of an experiment.  The test was either a success or a failure, but why is that?  With science the whole purpose of the experiment is not to change the testing mid way - with one target.  But what if you continually adjusted your target?  Looking at your progress and adjusting course by changing the experiment or your aim, essentially CHANGING to keep on course. 

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the different results.  If that is true, than how can you expect to succeed if you never change course? 

So this means if your purpose is the wind in your sails than your purpose will blow you to your goals - but you have to be open to rough waters and the possibility of charting another course around the globe to get to the same island of success. 

Failure does not have to be the result if you realize that the secret is in you and your ability to CHANGE.  The ability to change habits to reach your purpose.  You do not need the word failure in your personal dictionary if you are constantly defining your success and let your purpose guide you.

Thanks for reading. Set sail!


- Jessica Donnelly