Everyone loves the saying: Imagine what you could do if you could not fail. But I’ve always been on the fence about this quote. It never quite resonated with me. I didn’t really understand until very recently.

On failure: In the words of Thomas Edison, “I just found 1000 ways that won’t work.” I think as a adults we forget that finding the ways something doesn’t work, is just as important as finding the way something does. One of our biggest fears (at least mine) is failing at something. But in not failing, I sometimes don’t try. I imagine the possibilities if I succeed, but ignore the possibilities still there even if I fail. Recognizing the possibility in failure is one of the most important things we can do.

The list of things I fail at grow daily. I’ve had failed attempts at cooking. I’ve had failed relationship. I’ve had failed tasks. I’ve failed at college classes, I’ve failed at business endeavors, I’ve failed at being nice, I’ve failed at being places on time. I’ve failed tests, I’ve failed people when they needed me, and I’ve failed at being the best possible version of me regularly. I’ve failed almost everything I’ve ever done at one point or another.

Making this list could have made me feel really terrible. But along the line I’ve realized something else. I’ve also gained so much through these failures.

I’ve gained perspective. I’ve gained knowledge. I’ve gained strength. I’ve gained resilience. I’ve gained truth, compassion, empathy, experience. I’ve gained 1000+ ways of how not to do/be something. I’ve gained the person I am today.

I had to get creative, I’ve had to IMAGINE. Imagine the possibilities despite my failure. So instead of imagining what you could do if you knew you could not fail, imagine instead what you can STILL do when you fail. Most importantly, IMAGINE.