Overcoming Obstacles: How Your Biggest Failure Can Lead to Your Success

There’s been a lot written on the theme of failure and how essential it is to success. In a world where     1     is given for people’s accomplishments, failing feels dangerous. The fear of failure can stop people taking risks that might lead to success.

Heidi Grant Halvorson, a psychologist, points out much of success is     2     not on talent but on learning from your mistakes.

About half of the people in the world hold that ability in an area --- be it creative or social skill --- is natural. The other half believes, instead, that someone might have a preference or something --- say painting or speaking foreign languages --- but this ability can be improved through     3     practice or training.

It’s almost impossible to think rationally (理性地) while shouting at yourself, “I’m a failure”. But when you     4     your thinking, you will probably see what you can control --- your behavior, your planning, your reactions --- and change them.

The primary     5     between successful people and unsuccessful people is that the successful people fail more. If you see failure as a monster approaching you, take another look.

Success is as scary as failure. Researchers report that satisfaction grows on challenges. Think about it --- a computer game you can always win is boring; one you can win     6    , and with considerable effort, is fun. In pursuit of success, failure exposes areas that you need to     7    . So the failure serves as a brick wall to test how you apply yourself to     8     your objectives and how much you want them.

There is a way to distinguish whether a failure     9     you to double down or walk away, says Halvorson. If, when things get rough, you remain fascinated by your goal, you should keep going. If what you’re doing is costing you too much time and energy or it’s not bringing you joy, you should give a second thought to the     10     of your goal and even set a new one.