THE PRIVILEGE OF FAILURE

I am presently reading a book called, Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion, selected and edited by Diane K. Osbon. The following is an excerpt I read the other day that struck me deep and hard. So, I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy.

The psyche knows how to heal, but it hurts. Sometimes the healing hurts more than the initial injury, but if you survive it, you’ll be stronger, because you’ve found a larger base. Every commitment is a narrowing, and when that commitment fails, you have to get back to a larger base and have the strength to hold onto it.

Nietzche was the one who did the job for me. At a certain moment in his life, the idea came to him of what he called “the love of your fate.” Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, “This is what I need.” It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge. If you bring love to that moment – not discouragement – you will find the strength is there. Any disaster you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow.

Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You’ll see that this really is true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.

The dark night of the soul

Comes just before revelation.

When everything is lost,

And all seems darkness,

Then comes the new life

And all that is needed.

Pg. 38-39