"失敗を受け入れることはできます、誰でも何かで失敗するものです。でも、挑戦しないことは受け入れられません。"

Failure is part of life. Everyone messes up now and then. But what's really unacceptable is the fear of trying and not giving it a go in the first place.

Michael Jordan, the guy who practically defines basketball excellence, said this, and it makes sense if you look at his life. He got cut from his high school basketball team. Imagine that—one of the greatest players ever being told he wasn’t good enough. But he didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, he worked harder, got better, and became legendary. Jordan’s history is a testament to the idea that failing isn’t the end of the world. It’s not trying that’s the real tragedy.

Let’s bring this down to everyday life. Think about Sarah, a chef who dreamed of opening her own restaurant. She had the skills, the recipes, and the passion. But she was terrified of failing. What if no one came to eat? What if the reviews were terrible? These thoughts paralyzed her. For years, she stayed in a job she didn’t love, cooking food that didn’t excite her. Finally, after a heart-to-heart with a friend, she decided to go for it. She opened a small diner. It wasn’t smooth sailing from the start. There were days when the restaurant was nearly empty. She got a couple of scathing reviews. But she kept at it, learned from the mistakes, and slowly built a loyal customer base. Now, her diner is one of the most popular spots in town.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by reframing how you think about failure. It’s not the end—just feedback. If you’re scared to try something, break it down into smaller steps. If you want to write a book, don’t think about publishing it just yet. Focus on writing a single chapter or even a single page a day. If you want to switch careers, start by taking a course or volunteering in the new field. The key is to keep moving forward and not letting the fear of failure keep you from trying.

Imagine you’re at a crossroads. You’ve got this big idea—maybe it’s a business, a creative project, or something personal like running a marathon. You’re excited, but then the doubts creep in. “What if I can’t do it?” you think. “What if I fail?” Now, picture your life a year from now. Two scenarios: One where you didn’t try because you were scared, and one where you went for it, faced some setbacks, but kept pushing. In which scenario are you happier? More fulfilled? The answer is almost always the latter.

Failure has a bad rap, but honestly, it’s just part of the journey. What really matters is your willingness to try. That’s where growth happens, where you learn the most about yourself. So next time you’re hesitating, think about Jordan, think about Sarah, and give yourself permission to try—even if you might fail. Because not trying at all? That’s the only real failure.