I'd have to say that many people fear failure or hate to lose, especially in a society when winning and success matters most.

Failure in anything can be shameful, embarrassing, disappointing, and upsetting. You work so hard for something and hope and pray to get it...and then it plummets straight to the floor. The scariest thing is figuring out the next best thing. You wonder "What the hell do I do now?"

As I've gotten older, failure has become less and less scary- especially because I fail on a daily basis. In college, it's almost impossible not to let something slide, miss a class, or fail a test. Friends, sleep, personal time, time, and other distractions get in the way. At the beginning of my freshman year, I would plan out my days and make sure I had every assignment and meeting inline. On top of that, I always made sure my dorm was clean and I had time for friends. I was more stressed than I realized. My mom called me one day and told me not to be so rigid with myself and my schedule. I realized she was right. The world is not going to crumble because I miss a class or forget an assignment. This semester I have a general plan for my day but I let things take their course if needed. It's very freeing when I let other things or people take control of the events in my life for a bit. I remind myself that I can only handle and control so much.

Failure is something we have been taught to avoid. I believe we need to embrace it more and understand the opportunities it presents us. We can learn so much from it. Incorporating more 'failure' in your life can break down unwanted egos, judgment, and expectations which leads to a happier and more successful individual in the long run.