Failure....

I often see signs like this:

However, in life - in reality - failure IS an option - when we try new things, push ourselves or are placed in previously unknown circumstances or challenges there is the great possibility that we WILL FAIL. It's not that we failed that's important - it's what we do after, how we respond to the failure that matters.

In CrossFit we sometimes push to failure when lifting heavy weights.  A few weeks ago we were finding our new 2 rep max on back squats. In my head I was sure I had done 180# the last time. So as I set up the bar, I started at 155# and did okay, moved to 165# knocked out two reps, then loaded 175# on the bar. Went down in to the first squat - it was tough - went down in to the second squat and loosened up for a split second.

We are taught to dump the bar backwards - but when you're in a full depth squat with 175# on your back, throwing it backwards isn't as easy as it sounds. So, in that moment, I failed, I fell forward and the bar slammed on  my back! (I realized later when looking at my journal that my last time was only 155#, not 180# oops) - another lesson - be prepared! :)

This is what 175# FAILURE looks like:

OUCH!

Yes it hurt! Most failure does. However, I had a choice to make. I could use the hurt as an excuse to give up, to fear weight-lifting in the future and to "take a break" from CrossFit. OR I could accept the hurt, do what I needed to in order to heal and move forward.

This is the same concept when facing "failures" in the Christian life. Recently I have been faced with the reality that I am *gasp* human. I have tried new things and failed in new ways and have had to learn to move forward from that failure.

Naturally we want to retreat, take a break or quit... we beat ourselves up, or avoid certain situations, ignore the failure or "protect" ourselves by not allowing ourselves to be in those situations again. What we don't usually realize is that this response does not allow us to truly heal and grow stronger.

After my 175# failure at CrossFit, I could have quit, I could have taken "time off" or made excuses out of fear not to lift weights again because I didn't want to get hurt. In doing this I would not only be avoiding failure I would actually be allowing myself to become weaker in other areas as well.  Instead, I chose to keep showing up to the gym - bruise and all, making the proper modification to allow the area of hurt to heal, while not neglecting all other areas.

I WILL fail in CrossFit again and I WILL fail in life again - it's part of it. However, I am determined to continue showing up, even when it hurts, and do what is necessary to continue to strengthen my weaknesses.

Failure is part of life - don't stop living because of it!  Don't allow those failures to paralyze you. Get up, forgive yourself, learn from it, and do what you need to do to heal! Keep moving and you will get stronger!