Redefining Failure

[Dan Goodwin]

What does failure mean to you, in your creative life?

Most of the time we see failure as something negative and terrible, something to be avoided at all costs. So much so that it often chokes our ability to create anything at all.

Here are some alternative thoughts on failure:

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement." - C. S. Lewis

"There is no failure, only feedback." - Unknown

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simply really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure, or you can learn from it. So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that's where you'll find success..." - Thomas J. Watson

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have." - Unknown

"Remember the two benefits of failure. First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn't work; and second, the failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach." - Roger Von Oech

What are your thoughts and definitions of failure? How do those hold you back from trying more, from creating more?

How can you reframe or redefine your definition of failing to help you be more creative?

[Anne Westlund]

I've been thinking about this post. I've been responding to prompts for the July writing challenge in the Writer's Clique group. Most of what I've been writing is unfinished and not even close to my best work. But not exactly a "failure". Maybe they are just the seeds of something bigger, or they may not be developed further. I guess the point is just to try and not be too attached to the outcome. I do see some of them as "failed experiments". This is a real learning experience for me. I need to do some more thinking about this. Thanks for the article, Dan.

Anne

[Camille]

I like the words: the failure gives you opportunity to try a new approach!

It never occurred to me to think that consciously, but I do it all the time in experimental art play.

Also, when one thinks of art as exploration and discovery, the idea of failure lacks power. Exploring is looking for something new and meaningful and interesting, and when one cannot find these things where ventured, it is time to turn a new corner...curiosity does not kill the cat, in the case of creativity!

The only time I consider my own creativity a failure, is when I don't do anything creative at all! Since I have been part of the CCS community, my feelings of failure about my art have been put to bed because I am always creating or atleast looking forward to the next time I can get "hands on", which is every day now!

If a person thinks they do not draw well, and learn to draw, but do not like the process of drawing, the heart won't be in it and the artist may think of what they draw as failure.

But if that person finds an alternative means of expression that comes from the spirit or the soul, no formal instruction is even needed. One just knows that this is what they love to do and that love will not bring failure. Passion will replace or put to rest feelings of failure!

[Lin Neiswender]

I've done the same with the July experiment Anne, some of what I did I liked, some I didn't but I put it out there anyway. Maybe it will help someone to see the process. Val suggested the other evening taking a timer and freewriting for 10-15 minutes on each prompt and see what came up. I think that's a great idea. You are to be commended for doing them on your own as you have. I want to give it a shot this weekend.

For me, failure always equated to shame, terrible terrible shame. I don't know exactly where that came from either. I feared ridicule because to me, that was devastation. I can remember one incident where I was publicly critiqued before an auditorium full of students for how I read a poem in a contest including my physical appearance at age 9 or 10. I was practically struck dumb and left scarred by it. It was horrible. The funny thing is that I went on to win the flippin' contest despite what she had to say! Still failure is not my friend and I know that holds me back from trying new things. It's sad.

[Anne Westlund]

I hate failing and making mistakes. One of the things that's helped me with the mistakes is YARN. When I crochet and I make a mistake I just keep on going, I never rip out. Crocheting to me is anti-perfectionism practice. Kind of spiritual! I hope this bleeds into other areas of creativity. The worst thing about fearing failure is it stops me from trying new things. Or used to. The good thing is we are all growing and CCS is a part of that process. Lin, I hope you give those last prompts a try. You can do it!

[Lin Neiswender]

I like your analogy using something I love, crochet. I am going to try the prompts, Anne. I'm sure I will get a good nugget or two, worth all the dross. It always takes practice and experimentation to get something good, at least that is how I am looking at the process these days.

[Dan Goodwin]

I agree, Lin. Another way of looking at it is that often the good stuff is more than a single step away. You have to take a couple of steps in faith and in experimentation to be able to reach something new and very worthwhile, that you could never have gone to directly.

[Hannah]

This one's easy for me, though you may not like my answers. I live in failure. Not getting to the piano. Not getting to an audience. My voice as it is, not as it was and would like it to be, or better in a different way. Writing something that's just ok, not spectacular. Figuring something out that doesn't change anything. Not getting my point across. Confusion. Not having friends who both care about me and share my enthusiasms. Most of my past -- and the resulting sap of energy in my present. Not having the money to buy things which I need regularly to survive emotionally -- like air conditioning (until I finally got one), trips, a yard, a massage, a car, a move to different climate....sushi (heheh).

[Lin Neiswender]

Hannah, is there any way I can help you with this?

[Camille]

Lin, Maybe some of your manifestation and goal setting groups could be of help to Hannah...like the EFT !

Hannah, are you aware of Lin's Goal Miners' Group?

Goal Miners
http://coachcreativespace.ning.com/group/goalminersintentioncircle

Go for the Goal
http://coachcreativespace.ning.com/group/goforthegoal

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Hmm. here are my two cents :


sushi?

Yuck!

I'm thankful you have the A/C you need.
And the computer :)


The past is the past ... better to leave it there, and start fresh from now.



Now ... what baby steps can you take, Hannah, to get some of the other things you want?

Just FYI, I don't have an air conditioner, haven't taken a long trip in quite a while, and the friends I have who care about me AND share my enthusiasms are at CCS :)

[Hannah]

I love hanging out here. I told Dan already, this is a dream come true.

Yeah ... sushi! Not up there with the others, but it's up there, in this city. I think it's part of the whole feeling trapped and needing nature thing.

Tomorrow, the beach!

[RobynG]

Barb, I've been noticing your comments in quite a few discussions this morning. You really are a friend worth having. (((Big Hugs)))