My Teacher often encouraged me to make mistakes — to collect rejections — and in so doing, to become unashamed in asking, in taking action, or in any movement forward. She would suggest that I practice “failing”, encouraged me to “Go Forth & Fail”, a very counter-intuitive Meditation. And before one talk I was to give, she said, “I hope it doesn’t go well,” and laughed.
May we all have such Teachers. People who love us this much — who encourage us in the ways that are required for our emotional maturing. May we be less afraid of failure when we have made it our constant companion & good friend — when it becomes our Teacher.