If I don’t try, I won’t fail.
Absolutely. I have no argument with the truth of this mindset.
But typing those words sends a shudder down my spine.
Our mindset becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
So if your mindset is don’t try, won’t fail, then the world must shrink to make that your reality. Small and safe, perhaps. But also suffocatingly stagnant.
The simple fact: When you step outside your comfort zone and try new things, you don’t always make a straight line to success.
Often you stumble and suffer setbacks. You fail on the way to succeeding.
Does this serve me?
As with every mindset, the question to ask yourself is: Does this serve me?
It’s up to you. Do you want to limit yourself to only those pursuits where you know there’s no chance of failure?
I recently witnessed a client shift from an avoidance of failure at all costs to adopting this mindset and mantra: So that didn’t work; let’s try another way. And her world has expanded in response with new skills, new opportunities, and new confidence.
If you were to embrace failing is simply a stop along the way to success, then failure isn’t to be avoided at all costs.
How does that change what life looks and feels like? How does that change what pursuits are possible?
