Learning from failures – The Hindu

I recently made the last attempt at an examination and failed to clear it by just 0.33 marks. I had taken this examination four consecutive times, and with this attempt, I have now exhausted all chances. It has become clear that I may never formally do what I aspired to, despite sustained effort and commitment.

Many of us encounter similar situations in life. At certain junctures, we prioritise one goal above everything else. We invest our time, energy, and emotional reserves into it. We give it our heart and soul, convinced that success will justify the sacrifice. Yet, sometimes, despite genuine effort, things do not materialise. Outcomes do not always reflect intent, preparation, or perseverance.
At the moment of failure, the goal appears overwhelmingly important; almost defining what we are. However, as time passes, life often takes an unexpected turn. What once felt central may gradually lose its relevance as new paths emerge. We may find ourselves doing something entirely different, something we never initially envisioned. With hindsight, the earlier setback no longer holds the same weight it once did.

The most difficult part is navigating that immediate moment of disappointment; the break from a long-held aspiration.

It is hard to accept that certain paths no longer exist, especially when we feel we did everything within our capacity. This turbulent phase demands emotional resilience, which is far harder to cultivate than professional competence. No matter how strong we pose ourselves to the world, that stingy feeling of being left out hovers.

Over time, after encountering multiple bottlenecks, we often choose an alternative path, or sometimes, a new path chooses us. Effort does get rewarded, though not always in the way we expect or on the timeline we desire. Life unfolds amid countless variables, many of which remain beyond our control, and no amount of preparation can eliminate uncertainty entirely — whether it is an examination, an interview, a stage performance, or a simple everyday task

.Prolonged self-blame and lingering in grief only diminish the present and undermine what can still be built in the future. What truly matters is making the best use of what is in hand. It is equally important to maintain a Plan B; not as a sign of pessimism, but as a recognition of life’s unpredictability.

Rather than remaining trapped in a sense of anti-climax or feeling unrewarded, it is more constructive to introspect. Recurrent failure invites us to examine our strategies, identify gaps, and recalibrate our approach. Sometimes, however, recalibration alone is not enough; especially when opportunities to retry no longer exist. In such moments, we may be compelled to completely reimagine our dreams.

Achievement brings joy and fulfilment, but there is also profound growth in learning to live through failure, to face it without denial, and to continue engaging with life courageously. The more chances we take, the greater our exposure to both success and failure — and both shape us.

In fact, as someone once observed, the story of a human life is best told through its failures. A person who has experienced setbacks and disappointments often has far more to pass on to the next generation than someone who achieved everything effortlessly in one attempt. Failure humbles us. It teaches perspective. It reminds us that effort is meaningful even when outcomes differ from expectations. When we acknowledge this, we preserve our capacity to move forward, to attempt new things, and to find purpose beyond a single outcome.

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