Are You Ready to Fail?

Let me ask again - are you ready to fail?

The year 2020 is officially in your midst. This gives you new opportunities, new experiences, and new chances to achieve new levels that you can potentially unlock within yourself. You are presented with a fresh start to grow. You tell and remind yourself to let go of negativity, toxic people, and drop the things that are preventing you from achieving happiness. You are determined to do so.

You feel excited, feeling exuberant and alive. In your hands, you hold a brand new blank journal ready to be filled in with big plans, goals, and ideas. In fact, a few bullet points are already inside it - places to visit this year, what you will commit on doing better, even a budget plan is in place. 

You are geared up, all set to face life head on. With a hint of enthusiasm and gusto, you stand up as confidently as you can with your pen and journal on one hand, and a fist up in the air as though saying "Bring it on! I'm ready!".

Oh, until a massive reality hits you again - a few months from now, maybe even a few weeks, or even days, you will begin to see the trend that you so wanted to get rid of. Life will once more unfold its stunning mysteries. It is as excited as you, filled with immense energy and it seems unstoppable. On one hand, it showers you with opportunities - on the other hand, a maximum typhoon signal thunders down on you in the form of self-doubt, uncertainties, disappointment, hurt, and things not going according to plan. All - over - again.

Hang on for a moment. 

Read. this. very. carefully.
S l o w l y.
Understand it until it sinks in. 

Unless you are prepared to fail, unless you accept failure, unless you become vulnerable, there is no escaping the wrath of life. Avoidance will prolong your agony. Facing fear head on is a much greater feat and brings greater return than just facing life head on. 

This year, you will be challenged to be more creative.

Are you willing to create, despite the fear of having a bad idea? or not earning likes and attention? or not receiving the recognition you yearn for?

This year, you will be pushed to speak up your truth clearly. 

Are you willing to make yourself be heard, despite the fear that people may not like to be with you anymore? or the fact that you are speaking with someone you think is greater than you?

This year, you will be reminded to give more than you receive. 

Are you willing to go the extra mile for people who cannot do the same for you, despite the fear of people leaving?

This year, you will be encouraged to live wholeheartedly. 

Are you willing to live - despite the fear? or failure? or self-doubts? or the uncertainty?

If you want 2020 to be THE year for you - a year of success, wellness, happiness, and peace, but you are neither willing to create, make yourself be heard, go the extra mile, nor live wholeheartedly despite feeling afraid - then it will not make any sense and you will still be in the same trap that you are in as before. Stuck. 

Because no matter how new your journals are, or how flashy your goals and plans may be, but you do not have an accepting heart to understand that defeat is part of life, that fear can be a friend, and that failing can be a great teacher, you will always end up locked down in the cage that you yourself has built the past years. You will once again go around in circles.

This year is the time to fail, get up, and fail again. Taking the time to give yourself a tap at the back every time it happens as you kindly tell yourself:

"Life goes on. Let's try again."

Tomorrow, you will become a stronger person.

Remember, the bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists. Resilience, my friend, is what will help us flourish. 

May you be well, may you be happy, and may you be safe.

Happy New Year!

Love,
Mary Jedde