In a culture obsessed with the idea of perfectionism and success, we often forget that our missteps and setbacks are taught by an even greater teacher than disappointment — we’re taught by failure. 

In the busy and buzzing world that surrounds us, we see our failures as unfortunate detours that plague our destined end goal. 

It strips away our sense of ego, and the inevitable situation often leaves many people to wonder why this is happening to them. 

In those moments when failure stares back at us, it feels eerily final. 

Failure can be a setback — yes — but it can also be an opportunity for redirection. 

What some would consider a detour, others may feel like it’s the end of the world. 

Many of us fear the thought of failure, but why?

During my earlier years of college, I contemplated how to process my failures, which often led to hours of self-pity and minute amounts of ice cream consumption; however, failure offers the possibility of re-routing. 

After five pounds and a prescription for Concerta, it dawned on me that failure was inevitable; however, the way I dealt with my defeats altered how I could continue. 

If I sat in my self-pity, dreading coming to terms with my inhibitors, I would immediately ditch whatever I so desperately wanted. Now, I kick myself over those moments, because instead of picking myself back up, the initial sting of failure made me concede from my goals. 

Progress is not a linear line, nor is it something that comes easily. 

Failure teaches what success often can’t — it makes us rethink our planning, our processes and builds resilience. 

It’s a signal to try something new or to keep trying. 

What if failure is not a dead end, and instead an opportunity for redirection that brings us closer to where we’re meant to be?

If we think about failure in a historically accurate way, many successful people faced failure before doing something great. 

The lightbulb wasn’t created in one day, and it took a lot longer than a few moments for Thomas Edison to figure it out. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so how can we stop our inherently harsh outlook toward failure? 

Sometimes, failure points to internal misalignment. Maybe you didn’t want to go to nursing school, and maybe this setback illuminates a new path to embark on. 

Redirection is not the same as quitting or giving up, it’s about being honest with yourself. It’s about weighing your options and evaluating the feedback failure is giving you. 

Let’s be clear — failure still hurts, yet it clears the slate to start over. 

It removes the inaccuracies and forces us to pivot when things don’t go to plan, and in that space, there’s room for building something stronger, newer and more true to who you are now. 

This so-called guidepost and reset button only offers a different trajectory, forcing us to think in innovative ways to reach our goals. 

So, the next time something doesn’t go your way, don’t see it as an end: consider the redirection as an opportunity. 

You might realize failure didn’t stop you — it saved you from going the wrong way.