A Holistic and Integrated Approach

Embracing failure, as a mindset, as a way of life, yields the greatest benefit when applied universally, to all areas of life: work, play, relationships, learning, growth, giving. Embracing failure is a loving acceptance of the universe as it actually is, in your perception, in this instant, accompanied by a hope for an even brighter tomorrow.

I fell in love recently. We seemed to mesh, to click, on many levels. It was refreshing, new, and wonderful. I dove in. She dove in with me. It was a lovely and memorable time. And then as quickly as it had begun, it was over. As we explored our mindsets, worldviews, beliefs, it became clear that in we were not compatible. So it ended. And I was sad. I'm still a little sad as I write this. But I embrace the moments we spent together. I embrace the memories. I embrace the failure. And I'm ready to love again.

Will the next love I find be a lifetime partnership? Will she be my soul's mate? Will we find utter openness and deep oneness? I don't know. But I do know I will intend all those things. And I believe that by embracing and then releasing the memories of all my failures in relationships in the past, I lessen the chance of bringing excessive baggage and I open to the chance of true merging, of the true and utter connection for which I dream.

I've had some financial setbacks recently. I completed some work for a new client over a month ago and have not yet been paid for that work. Several prospects for income have faded. I've had many failures over the past sixty days, since my untimely (or perfectly timed, who can say?) layoff.

There have been many days when I didn't know if I would have the fortitude to walk on. But I did. I embraced the failures. A little tentatively at first, but with more and more enthusiasm as time goes on, as I write this book, as I live this mindset of embracing each and every day and each and every situation, whether it appears to be a successful situation or a failure.

Embracing failures in each aspect of our lives allows us to quickly recover, emotionally and mentally, and to move through and past each of these failures. The more consistency we can muster in living and walking in this way, the more we open ourselves to our eventual shining and massive success.

The universe really does reward diligence and persistence. We can see this truth in the lives of virtually all people who have achieved greatness. Embracing failure is a key not only to continued and sustained contentment, but to the attainment of destiny, of purpose, of greatness.

No matter your current situation, a grateful and humble attitude of acceptance, whether in the midst of great success or great hardship, will improve that situation. A loving and expanding universe would have it no other way.

• Which areas of your life are lacking?

• Are you willing to embrace the failures in those areas and open to further failures and eventual success?

• What is your current situation in terms of: relationships, finances, career, achievement, spiritual development, contentment, and physical condition?

• Which areas of your life will you seek to improve, through both success and failure?