How can Failure be so Wonderful?

Definitions of failure include the fact of someone or something not succeeding, a failing to perform a duty or expected action, and a lack of success in doing or achieving something. I’m claiming that all these definitions is a misuse of the positive role failure can play in our life. Granted, for failure to play a positive role in our life we need to develop a counter-cultural perspective about it.

                  The backstory of my favorite movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is just as powerful as the message the movie shares with us. You see, a man named Frank Capra was returning to Hollywood after World War II and was looking for film he could direct that would restore his faith in humanity. The war had amplified feelings of loneliness and fear of failure for Capra, who had previously experienced early career success that included Academy Awards.

It was an encounter with an unknown man that shook Capra in a way that transformed his life. “The talents you have, Mr. Capra, are not your own, not self-acquired,” said the unknown man. “God gave you those talents; they are his gift to you, to use for his purpose. And when you don’t use the gifts God blessed you with, you are an offense to God and to humanity.” Others knew Capra had talent but Capra himself, like all of the others who experienced the horrific tragedy of World War II from a front row seat, had lost his faith not only in humanity, but indeed in his own self.

It was by chance that a short story written by Philip Van Doren Stern entitled “The Greatest Gift” was shared with Capra. Capra saw it as a sign, set about making the story into what became the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and overcame his fear of failure for the rest of his life. It was the story the movie portrayed that helped him regain his faith in humanity and in himself. This all happened at a time when failure was on his doorstep knocking loudly on his door. He opened that door, looked failure in the face, and took action to ensure that he would never allow failure to enter his home nor his heart.

The rest of his life, Capra saw any of his failures as an entrance to a stepping-stone path that led to a consistent wonderful life. He believed in himself and saw that his God-given talents could be utilized as a gift to humanity. In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an Angel named Clarence shares words of wisdom to the main character George Bailey when he says “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other other lives.” I share that because I’m not sure that you realize how much your life matters not only to you, but to the rest of us that make up the whole of humanity.

The perspective we have revolving around failure is more often caught than taught. Capra’s perspective of failure changed during two chance encounters. The first from an unknown man that helped restore Capra’s belief in himself, and the second when a short story gave Capra the motivation to take action in restoring his faith in humanity. The most powerful life tools Capra utilized was being open to a shift in his perspective of failure and taking action to remove any possibility of failure.

But Capra’s ability to turn failure into something wonderful was just getting started with “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The movie initially received mixed reviews and was unsuccessful at the box office. Because of the film’s disappointing sales, Capra was seen by some studios as having lost his ability to produce popular, financially successful films. The movie was considered a failure and the movie’s copyright wasn’t renewed in 1974. It then entered the public domain, allowing it to be broadcast without licensing or royal fees. THAT’s what allowed it to become a Christmas classic. It’s now considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

The valuable lesson here isn’t about the movie as much as it’s about the shift in perspective that occurred in Capra. Directing the movie provided the hope for humanity that Capra, and so many others that had served in World War II, that he was desperately seeking. He epitomizes the quote “If there’s HOPE in the future, there’s POWER in the present.” While Capra didn’t go on to direct blockbuster successful movies after “It’s a Wonderful Life,” he had transformed his perspective of all failure as the first step down a path that leads to living a wonderful life. Failure, in his mind, was now wonderful.

But what about YOU? How do you react when someone tells you that you’re going to fail at something? Does it take the wind out of your sails, or do you double-down on your efforts to prove them wrong? It’s a fact that every human being is capable of so much more than they think they are. It’s amazing what a person can achieve when failure is removed from their mind’s acceptable options. I’ll repeat it again, “If there’s HOPE in the future, there’s POWER in the present.”

Here’s some additional inspiration to help you deal with potential failure and turn the threat of failure into something wonderful. It’s a quote from the movie “Kung Fu Panda 3” which claims, “If you only do what you CAN do, you will never be more that you are NOW.” The point is that you should constantly be growing into your capabilities. You are capable of so much more than you currently think you are. I believe in you and the best place for you to start turning failures into something wonderful is for you to believe in yourself. So, get busy and take any form of action with your God-given ability that provides movement towards the life you dream of living. Hey…I Believe In YOU! GiddyUp!