“Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.”
– Winston Churchill

You will fail. You will fail a lot. How’s that for inspiration? I just wanted to get that out of the way, because as harsh as it sounds it really is inspirational in context. If you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying. Period. That said, let’s be clear on something else – you are not a failure because you have failed. Read that again (and again if you must), then commit it to memory.

I will be the first to tell you that I am a fraidy-cat, I live in my comfort zone. I know what I know, and even when I know that I know more, I’m afraid to execute, because maybe – or even worse, most likely, I’ll fail. Here’s the thing, success is not possible without failure. The first step is changing your perception of failure and what it means in your life. Below, I ‘ve listed a few notes about failure from my own perspective (and some from those self-help books I collect), that have helped me along the way.

1. Setbacks do not equal failures. They are simply speed bumps.
2. Failure is subjective.
3. Failure is not fatal.
4. If you’re not failing, you’re playing it way too safe.
5. Failure is simply a temporary change in direction.

Now that you know you will fail, and that it’s okay to fail, how do we start failing? I believe that what holds most of us back from even trying is fear. So, let’s talk for a minute about fear. Over the years, I have found inspiration, strength, and courage through my faith. But no matter what you believe, what I’m about to share is truth.

Darkness is a breeding ground for fear. If you want to melt away fear, bring it to light. Here’s what that means. Define your fear, and speak it out loud, tell someone, a trusted friend or family member, or say it out loud alone in your car, in front of the mirror. Just bring it to light. Then watch it wither. Imagine what you could accomplish if you had no fear.

There is an indescribable freedom when we rid ourselves of the fear that keeps us from living and becoming who we are meant to be. I’ve only just begun but have already had a taste of that freedom and I like it. My weight loss journey has turned into so much more than losing, in fact, I’ve gained more than I’ve lost, and I am here now because I’ve failed. The truth is I still struggle every single day in this area, but I will no longer allow failure to scare me away from accomplishing all the big things I know I was meant for. I promise that it will not be easy, but why not make today the day you stop living in fear? Embrace your failures, and don’t stop until you’ve failed your way to success.