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August 2007 
Failure Germaphobe
Wendy
I just read a great article about putting myself in a position to fail and how to get used to failure. I realise that most of my life has been spent being safe. Of course there have been times when I have challenged myself and have had the inner confidence to know that I will succeed but most of the things I do, the paths I choose, the decisions I make, I have come to expect a certain level of success because I deliberate on my decisions and choose my words with care. I am cautious and this has allowed me to avoid failure. This article has brought to the forefront something that has been buzzing in my head for the past couple years: it's okay to fail. It's okay to let go. It's okay to jump.
The article suggested that I try to do something that I know I will fail at, like playing a musical instrument, or trying out for a play or asking someone out, or taking a course in computer programming, or.... So for this week, I am going to attempt to fail at something.
"When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly" ~ Patrick Overton
Access: Public
How'd failing go for ya??
One of my all time fav quotes - a little long but worth it… Thomas Hoving
Since you are somewhat special, you'll have to be very careful and work very hard to learn how to press yourself into the existence of others. Stand in the shoes of others, wear their clothes, enter their heads, imagine their anxities, their clouded thoughts, their superstitons, their untutored responses and unthinking and dumb inclusions. Recall before you dismiss all the stupidities of mankind, that even in ignorance there are some words of wisdom. That even in hysteria there has got to be a glint of reason. That even in stubborn and recalcitrant opinion there is a sensitivity of true thoughtfulness. And if you do press yourself into the existence of others and their minds, you have periods of grave doubt and concern and skepticism, and if you really get into the skin of another human being and become immersed in his or her own nerve shoots, you will say, I'm wrong, they're right. You might even say, the heck with them all, alright. And if you go either way it's going to be the same thing because you're going to be experiencing the dark night of soul and maybe a lot of failure which is the next greatest professor you're going to have in life.
David - Thans for the quote by Thomas Hoving. I have copied it into my book of quotes. I haven't been so good at failing this week. I guess I have shone some light onto this fear and the fear itself has dimished a bit. I know it's still there but I'm not so afraid to look it straight in the eye anymore. Funny how fears work! I'll keep you updated on my failures because I haven't forgotten about trying to put myself out there. Right now, it's not too scary but I'm taking baby steps at the moment.
Excellent - ya know any size steps get ya somewhere… the proverbial “they” say it's the journey that counts. Who are they anyway?
Started to read that article then was attracted to 'How do you make money from your blog'. which i bookmarked for reading later; this has been a question of mine and of my students for a long time. One if my webdesign students is writing a book and is in need of it being published at the end of it…thanks Wendy for another feather…