Failure is also known as defeat, loss, and deterioration. Every word related to failure is a negative one.

We have grown with the notion that the act of failing is abhorrent. If you are not successful, then you are living life wrong. However, I argue that failure is not just a necessity, but something that should be embraced.

I don't believe in the concept of perfection. I don't believe that people can be perfect, especially not me. There will always be something, some flaw, stopping us from being perfect. While that may be a cynical outlook on life, I think it is an accurate truth. So many strive for perfection, setting their goals and expectations too high. But expecting and hoping for perfection simply allows for more disappointment to seep through into your life.

So, I suggest abandoning perfection. Why should we aim for something that is unattainable? Humans were meant to make mistakes. We don't learn from being stationary and stagnant. If we always stay in the same place, on the same path, we will never experience anything new. Mistakes provide opportunities for exploration and growth. We're so afraid to make mistakes because we view them as little green trolls that should be avoided at all costs. But if we don't make any mistakes, how will we learn? How will we expand our minds, our capabilities, and our experiences?

There have been so many instances in my life in which things didn't work out the way I wanted them to. There have been many disappointments, but from those disappointments, new opportunities have stemmed. Were it not for those failures, I would not be on the path that I am on now, and I would not have been able to make the connections that I have. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason, and everyone comes into your life for a reason, whether it be positive or negative. I have learned something from all of my experiences, and I have learned something from every person that I've met.

I have learned about myself through miscommunications, misinterpretations, and misunderstandings more so than through my successes. I always did my best to avoid messing up and failing, but in those attempts at perfection, I realized something: I wasn't living my life to the fullest extent. But now, I am embracing my imperfections, and embracing the fact that failure is inevitable. We shouldn't be afraid to fail; rather, we should look forward to failing, because that is the only way that we will grow.

So don't be afraid to make mistakes. Don't be afraid to be a failure. It will just make you a better person, and it will make your successes that much sweeter.