It´s not how you fall, but how you standup

There is a beautiful text by Peter Handke in which he says ‘Fail calmly’. Fail, yes. Calmly, no. We did not learn that it is o.k. to fail. Let alone that we stay calm while failing. To fail calmly is an art of living, a constant balancing between trying, exercising, and daring to stumble.

Daring to stumble is showing your vulnerability.
To show that you don’t know either.
Socrates already said : ‘I know that I don’t know’.
That wisdom is centuries old .
Why is it so difficult to take away the layer of veneer?
To show who you really are, hesitating and stumbling?

Maybe it helps when we choose.
To choose to dare.
To choose to love stumbling people.
To choose to surround yourself with warm people who do not reject you when you stumble, but who on the contrary reach out.
And to offer your own hand or shoulder when someone nearly falls.

To get up and continue.
It sounds simple, but you never do it alone.
On top of your restored self confidence  you need others.
Warm, encouraging others who also believe in your ability, your resilience and your talents.

To believe in yourself is to allow yourself to stumble.
Stumble calmly, struggle to get up and accept those hands, smooth your hairs and try again.
Not how you fall, but how you get up.

+

Original Dutch version / Originele Nederlandstalige versie: Niet hoe je valt, wel hoe je opstaat

Preceding article:

Searching for fulfillment and meaning through own efforts, facing unsatisfaction and depression

Using failure

+++

Further reading

1. The Fallacy of Failure
2. failing 1
3. Failing 2
4. Failing 3
5. Failing 4
6. day 122 . failing
7. Fail Like a Scientist
8. Failing at life
9. Failing to Grace
10. Failing and Flailing
11. Fear of Failure, Failure to Risk
12. Can I take my time?
13. What have we done?
14. Still not perfect
15. 5 Ways to Fail a Class
16. Average???
17. Acceptance: I’m A Failure!!! But I’m Working at it!
18. Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
19. Failing Fast
20. Failing IS Part of Our Process
21. Throwing out the cheese
22. Two-Facedbook
23. Is it bed-time yet?
24. Making it to Xmas
25. Smart Goals
26. Mastering the art of quitting
27. And Endless Downward Sloping Set of Stairs
28. 7 Things People Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because You’re Afraid Of Failure
29. “Negative Vibes”
30. Why?!
31. Why I Love Failing Just As Much As Succeeding
32. I’ve got spirit, yes I do!
33. what should you be?
34. Reality Check
35. One thing about Mark Zuckerberg you never knew
36. Designed To Fail (& Grow)
37. Fear Of Not Flying
38. Once bitten
39. The Countercultural Icon, #2
40. Motivation Monday – Fear Edition!
41. Life is hard. Send help
42. The sun still rises even with the pain
43. Learn To Strike Out
44. One year older, one year…wiser?
45. What’s At Risk When We Choose Not To Take A Risk?
46. 365 Days Later
47. 5 Lessons I’ve learned from 2016
48. It wasn’t about me.

+++

Related articles

• Failing Fast At The Idea of Hiring A Writer + WordPress Person
• Office party fails for you to live up to (43 Photos)
• Why it’s Okay to do it All Wrong.
• Tuesday New Release Day: King; Savill; Handke; Morris; Grass; Hustvedt
• In the aftermath of the failed coup
• A second chance. And a third. And a fourth…
• Using Failure