You are fortunate if you have learned to differentiate between temporary defeat and failure; more fortunate  still, if you have learned the truth that the seed of success is dormant  in every defeat that you experience..... Napoleon Hill 

How often do you see yourself as a failure? Has someone told you that you are a failure? Have you been passing through circumstances that make you feel that way? Cheer up and read further because this post is for you. 

You may want to think "oh this is another motivational post that has no real value when applied to real life"... Fortunately, it's not, it's a  post written out of personal experience. If you have been following my previous posts, you'll notice 80% of my write-ups are linked to my personal experiences. So when I tell you that you're not a failure,  believe. Now read on as we explore this topic. First things first.  

What is the meaning of failure?

Failure is the condition or fact of not achieving the desired end. It is lack of success. In other words, when you don't achieve what you desired and worked for, it could be said that you failed. How does that make you a failure? Let's critically analyze it. 

Who should be called a failure? 

The only person that should be called a failure is someone who died without succeeding in anything. 

No matter how many times you've faced obstacles and setbacks, for as long as you're still alive, you cannot be classified as a failure.

If you can read this post, then you can never be called a failure because you're still alive. 

My Story 

I'm someone who has encountered a lot of hardship and misfortunes to the extent that my friends and family feel pity for my predicament. Sometimes, they advise me not to venture into new opportunities since everything ends in failure. In their minds, they saw me as a failure, though they never voiced it out, my mind was able to detect it. 

I failed in almost everything I did. Recurring failures, made me lose my self-confidence. I did everything with the fear of failing...of course, that alone ensures it ends in failure. 

I thought I was "unlucky" (which I later found out was a result of my lack of self-discipline). It was so bad I almost gave up, but reading motivational books kept my hope alive. Deep down in my heart, I already accepted defeat. 

After I read The Law of Success and other books written by Napoleon Hill, my perception of life changed. I was able to figure out why I always failed. I also learned things about failure that keeps me motivated irrespective of the outcome I get. Here are some of the things I learnt. 

I learnt that;

• Even if I got everything right, I could still fail to get the desired results. 
• Falling to get positive results through a particular approach is an opportunity to exploit other means to achieve my goals. 
• I shouldn't count how many times I failed until I have succeeded. 
• I can use my past failures as a stepping stone to success. 
• There is always a lesson to learn from each failed attempt. 
• Most importantly, I learnt that I should never accept defeat no matter how many times I failed. 

Facts 

The number of times you failed will no longer matter if you finally succeed. 

Most of those we celebrate their success stories today were once regarded as failures. 

Until you're defeated in your mind, the doors of success remain open to you. 

The Fear of failure is the beginning of failure. 

Conclusion 

I  don't know what you have encountered that makes you feel you're a failure. It could be that your life has been revolving around circles of disasters, disappointment and pains. 

You may have been hearing people tell you how unfortunate you are. Your mind may now be the chief of those negative voices regularly reminding you of all your past failures. 

In all these, it's important to understand these;

Success starts with the mind. Don't accept defeat despite the number of times you failed. 

Don't speak fear and failure. What you say affects your thoughts and actions. Always speak faith and courage. 

Motivate yourself and don't accept negative remarks made against you. Be your own shield that protects you from outside aggression. 

You can never be a failure until you accept being one

Images source 

Thanks for Reading 

@elyaque made this beautiful badge for me.