If we want to grow, we need to accept that we will fail and feel some pain. It may be emotional, spiritual, mental, or physical. If at all meaningful to us and of significance, there will inevitably be pain with loss or failure. Allow that agony to manifest itself. If you are in the position to help others and minimize their pain, do not interfere.
For growth to occur, it always requires change. Yet, it is difficult for us to accept or adopt change without some pain. But, with pain, there is acceptance and a desire for change.
Have you radically changed habits, behaviors, practices, and training when you were successful beforehand? Why do teams listen more intently to input after a loss than a win? Why are we more open to intervention and help when we fail? Pain is a sensation that we do not want to experience again, so we are willing to make the necessary changes to avoid similar pain in the future.
If we attempt to avoid the pain, we short-circuit our ability to learn, grow and develop. The pain enables us to build resilience and provides a memory of where we choose not to revisit. There is little where we may endure discomfort – sacrifice, loss, hardship – and persevere that we are not the better for on the other side.
