Motivational Monday

"NOW YOU KNOW."

I'VE USED THIS SIMPLE MAXIM ON  CLIENTS WHO'VE GOTTEN PARKING TICKETS, AND ON OTHERS WHO'VE LOST MILLIONS INVESTING IN PONZI SCHEMES. 

I'VE LEARNED . . . TO SEE THE OUTCOME OF ANY EFFORT 

AS EITHER SUCCESS OR EDUCATION.

BOTH ARE INVALUABLE.

(Martha Beck)

I can't even begin to tell you the sense of relief I felt when I first read those words. Imagine taking the idea of "failure" off the table! No, really, think about it....

Instead of  - "My novel got so many rejections! I'm a failure as a writer!" 

We say - "My novel got so many rejections! I did learn a lot from the process though. Now I know...." 

Instead of - "This diet is so hard. I'm a failure at losing weight!"

We say - "This diet is so hard. I understand better what I need to do differently. Now I know...." 

I don't know how well this will work for everything, but I'm going to give it a try. I'm sure I'll still moan and groan and sulk and eat more chocolate than I should, but as someone who takes the idea of "failure" to some deep, dark, scary places, these words really do take off some of that pressure. 

Do you already look at most things as a learning experience? How do you usually handle "failure"? Thinking of giving the "Now I know" maxim a try?