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Failure is finding what went wrong and doing it correctly!

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By: Ishfaq Shafi

Most people fear failure, but failure in reality does not prevent success and can actually lead one to success as long we are ready and open minded to learn from it. The famous Thomas Edison, one of the great inventor of the modern era, once said that “I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” There is no failure, no disappointment, and no mistake in our past that can stop us from taking a positive step forward right now. No matter how many times we may have fallen short of the mark before, success is closer than ever.

All our past failures are actually laying the foundation for our future successes. Each time we get it wrong, we learn much more about how to get it right. Like Edison, we need to keep compiling that growing knowledge and experience for our use, and we’re certain to reach our goal. Every adversity, disappointment, and failure carries with it the seeds of success. It just takes a little positive mental attitude and the commitment to keep trying.

Once you are able to treat failure as a learning opportunity you can put it in the past and be able to move forward. The disappointments you experienced in the past are over and can hold you back no longer. Now is when you’re able to move forward. Today you can take the valuable lessons you’ve learned and transform them into effective, positive actions. Whether it has seemed to work or not, every step you’ve taken up to now has brought you closer to success.

Failures are but stepping stones on the road to success. You have the confidence to move ahead and you understand that your desire for success has to be greater than your fear of disappointment and failure. Take the steps that will take you were you need to be. It’s up to you.

Just a few weeks ago, the J&K Bose announced the result of class 10th and 12th and, as always, some people succeeded by virtue of their dedication and hard work while some couldn’t make it. Again the failure provided the unsuccessful lot another opportunity to learn. But unfortunately some young students don’t understand that this failure will become a milestone for their success. Chris Hardwick, an American writer says that “the more you fail and recover and improve, the better you are as a person. Ever met someone who’s always had everything work out for them with zero struggle?  They usually have the depth of a puddle. Or they don’t exist.” But unfortunately we are not taught to handle failure in such creative and constructive way.

Here, the tragedy is that we have seen some unfortunate and desperately painful incidents when someone failing a class commits or attempts to commit suicide. This is the ultimate tragedy and it happens only because our structural nuances are such that failure is demonstrated as the end of everything and never as a chance to refresh and reinvigorate ones struggle. Our Holy Quran also teaches us about this, those who takes such extreme steps (suicide)  they lose the Mercy of Almighty Allah. “And do not kill yourselves.  Surely, God is Most Merciful to you.” (Quran 4:29)“And do not throw yourselves in destruction.” (Quran 2:195)

The Quran makes it clear that human life is sacred.  Life cannot be taken at all as it is given by Allah and Allah is the sole owner of it.  Life itself is a gift from the Creator that we are obliged to care for.    Suicide out of despair of God’s mercy or worldly problems is strictly forbidden.  Prophet Muhammad (S A W) once said, “Whoever kills himself with something in this world will be punished with it on the Day of Resurrection. It is a major sin and its punishment is subject to the will of God.  If He wills, He will forgive it, and if He wills He will punish for it”.

The Author is Govt Employee working in Agriculture Department and can be reached at [email protected]

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