Written by: Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
“Failing is not a disgrace unless you make it the last chapter of your book” – Jack Hytes
Isn’t it interesting that as we get older the lessons that seem to have the biggest impact on the decisions, we make are often a result of the things that we have also tried to avoid!
I mean think about it. When you were younger and coming of age (and I will speak for myself in this instance), failure wasn’t a widely acceptable outcome. While my parents weren’t overly strict, they certainly held strong beliefs and values around effort and outcome and so ‘if’ failure did happen, the question was “what was your effort like?” Now let me be honest – I won’t say that things that I failed at weren’t attributed to a lack of effort (because in some cases my effort was minimal), but as I stand here older and wiser, and the mother to three children in a very changed world, my perspective, and fears that I once had about failing have been changed quite significantly.
The quote at the top of this article is poignant because it reflects a commonly held understanding or view about failure – in that if you fail there is no other destination. But I ask you the cherished reader – how far is that from your current truth!
I mean I don’t know that there is a pad of paper long enough to list out all the things I have personally and professionally failed at, but I can only say that these failures have led me to a successful career in government, as well as a Certified Health Coach and entrepreneur. Now please don’t get me wrong – I am far from perfect even in the areas that I am successful in, but as I grow and become more grounded and self-aware of both my power and purpose, I have come to a place where I now see failure as a hidden treasure.
Here's a straight fact. Failure is a part of life. But the real question you must ask yourself is what lesson, what door, what recognition, what acknowledgement, what truth are you now privileged to know about yourself that you didn’t know prior to this “failure”? Imagine embracing the beauty of failure over fearing it? Do you have any idea the kind of time one could save themselves and the stress that could be avoided!
My truth is…Failure led me to the world of human services (I failed my LSATs). Failure led me to Traditional Chinese Medicine (I struggled to get pregnant the 1st time). Failure led me to becoming a Certified Health Coach (I got passed up for a promotion). Most of my life’s blessings are because I failed at something, and rather than focusing on what was not “achieved” I changed the common narrative of failure and used it as an opportunity to learn more about myself. I let the failure also be an opportunity to acknowledge that not every path I believed was right for me, was where I was supposed to be. That takes me to another very interesting discussion on the “have to” versus “get to” mindset – but that will be for the next article so stay tuned for that!
Now listen, I by no means am saying that we should be complacent about failure. But what I am saying is that failure is not necessarily a reflection of our capacity to thrive. The outcome of a situation may not have worked out in your favor (at all) – but what can you glean from the experience? How has what has transpired now become a part of the tapestry that when put together reveals your personal masterpiece (your life)?
Do not fear failure.
Failure, like success is just another avenue to self-discovery, self-actualization, self-awareness, and self-love. Never hide or be ashamed of it but be open to the possibilities that show itself.
Aisha Saintiche, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazin
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. She is also an Integral Master for the Canadian Olympic Committee of Canada, and most recently she became a Published Author.
Always seeking opportunities to bring about change, she is also an active member and Board of Director for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School.
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