Why Failing Is The Best Thing For You

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that failure is not something to avoid, it’s something to embrace.

In fact, I’ve failed more in the last 12 months than probably in the previous five years combined. I’ve done things wrong. I’ve looked like an amateur. And if you measured my “success” purely by job title or salary, you could even call me unsuccessful.

But here’s the paradox: I’ve never felt more confident, more full of self-belief, and more optimistic about what’s ahead.

Failure forces you to confront yourself in ways success never will. When you stumble, when plans fall apart, when people underestimate you, that’s when you discover how much resilience, creativity, and grit you actually have.

And here’s the thing most people forget: the most successful people are rarely the smartest in the room. They’re not the ones with perfect resumes or flawless execution. They’re the ones who were willing to fail, over and over again, until the lessons stacked up high enough to provide even more value.

When you fail, you break free from perfectionism. You stop chasing validation from others and start living in alignment with yourself. You realise you don’t need to “prove” anything, because failure already proved that you can get knocked down and still stand tall. That’s real confidence.

This year, my failures gave me freedom. They showed me that the external scorecards, titles, salaries, other people’s opinions, aren’t the measure of a fulfilling life. The measure is whether you’re learning, growing, and becoming a stronger, more authentic version of yourself.

So if you’re in the middle of failure right now, don’t wish it away. Don’t label it as wasted time. Lean into it. The very thing you’re trying to avoid might be the exact thing that builds the confidence, perspective, and resilience you’ve been searching for.

Some practical ways you might already be failing, so learn from these:

Getting rejected for that job or promotion - Allows self-reflection on why, builds thicker skin, sharpens how you present yourself and help you align with roles that truly fit as maybe that wasn’t it.

Launching an idea before it’s perfect - Progress beats perfection and at least you started as most never do, it also allows productive feedback.

Setting health goals and slipping back into old habits - Teaches you self-awareness, the importance of consistency and how to design better systems instead of relying on motivation.

Failing in a relationship (personal or professional) - Helps you understand communication and the value of the right people that align with you.

Looking “like amateur” in front of others - Shows you that humility is strength, you had the courage and being a learner is the only way to become an expert.

See you next week

Billy Hudspith

Your High Performance Wellbeing Creator