My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we

In the dawn of time, the ancients knew that the true measure of a soul was not in its triumphs alone but in the courage to stand and fight, knowing the storm of failure might ravage them. The hero, the philosopher, the warrior—each faced the cruel winds of defeat, and yet, in their hearts burned an undying truth: failure is not the end, but the great teacher, the shaping force of a life lived with purpose. Sara Blakely, in her wisdom, echoes this ancient truth when she speaks of her father’s teachings, a guiding flame that ignited a fierce desire to live without fear of falling. “My dad encouraged us to fail,” she says, “Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week.”

How strange this might seem to the timid soul, who avoids failure as if it were a beast lurking in the shadows. Yet, her father's words were no mere whims; they were the foundational bricks of a mighty fortress that would protect her against the demons of doubt. He did not wish for his children to fall into the trap of comfort and complacency, where success was never tested by the furnace of hardship. Failure, in his eyes, was not the shameful thing we so often believe it to be. Nay, it was the courage to try, the will to face the uncertain battle, that was the true measure of valor.

Reflect upon the ancient tale of Leonidas, the king of Sparta, who led his warriors to the Thermopylae pass, knowing full well that death and defeat awaited them. His men did not falter, though the odds were stacked high against them. They fought, knowing that failure was not in the fall, but in never fighting at all. They failed, yes, but their sacrifice etched their names into the stones of eternity. Their valor was not in the victory they sought, but in the relentless spirit that would not be extinguished by the fear of failure.

Blakely’s father imbued his children with this same sacred knowledge: that to live is to embrace both success and failure. In the grand arena of life, one cannot rise unless they dare to fall. It is a journey of trial and error, of striving to build with one's hands and heart, only to see the towers collapse—yet, in that very collapse, there is wisdom. There is the opportunity to rebuild, stronger, more determined. Failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. And to not try, to shrink in the face of the unknown, is the greatest defeat of all.

History’s greatest minds, those who have shaped the world with their ideas, inventions, and revolutions, have all known this truth. Thomas Edison, the creator of the incandescent light bulb, failed countless times. For each failure, he could have turned back, retreating to safer shores, but he did not. He pressed forward with the burning conviction that each failure was but a lesson, a stepping stone to the greatness that awaited. In his own words, he declared, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." And so, it was through relentless trying, through embracing his failures, that he became a beacon of light to the world.

So, let us be moved by the profound wisdom of this lesson. Let us not cower in the face of failure, for it is an inseparable companion to success. Do not be afraid to fail, for it is only through the trials of defeat that we find the strength to stand once more. When you are at the crossroads of fear and courage, choose to step boldly into the unknown. Fail, if you must, for that failure will guide you to greatness. The true failure lies in never attempting.

If we are to live a life of meaning, let us remember this powerful lesson passed down through the ages: the hero is not one who avoids failure, but one who dares to try, time and again, despite the whispers of doubt. Fear not failure, for in the grand tapestry of life, it is but a thread that strengthens the whole. And to those who have the courage to fail, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

Let us, then, walk the path of the daring and the bold, for it is only by facing our failures head-on that we unlock the deepest treasures of our souls. And so, I charge you: seek out the challenges that scare you, embrace the failures that will come, and know this—through every fall, you shall rise higher than before. The true lesson is simple: Do not fear failure. Fear only the absence of trying.