The new “F-word” isn’t an expletive or something freaky. Nope, it’s the F that many of us spend our entire lives trying to avoid: Failure.

I have failed more times than I’d like to admit. And I’m not talking about small failures; I’m talking about the kind of failures that rock your world, completely altering the landscape of your relationships, finances, and mental well-being.

We’re a culture that appears to revere success, while failure has become taboo. Failure, as much as it hurts, is an important part of life. In fact, I’d say, failure is life’s greatest teacher. It is constantly molding us, redirecting us, and stripping us of ego, while also teaching us compassion and empathy.

Here are two things I know for sure about failure:

1. Failure is essential to success. Anyone who has ever succeeded at any human endeavor will tell you that he learned more from his failures than he ever learned from his successes. Acknowledge the mistakes you’ve made along the way and wear your failure scars with pride.

2. Failure helps us to grow. Fear of failure will stunt your growth, narrow your ambitions, and kill your dreams. Acts of bravery don’t always take place on battlefields. They can take place in your heart when you have the courage to honor your character, your intellect, your inclinations and yes, your soul by listening to its clear voice of direction.

Let’s re-frame failure and perhaps see it as a friend. A friend who if embraced can usher us into new experiences and exposures. Life is designed for us to grow and improve. So, use the new F-word boldly. In fact, fail often and fail forward.

With light,
Dr. Chana Luchiana