I was never allowed to fail. It just wasn't an option! So imagine my frustration when I did- indeed - fail at some things. My first marriage failed and I was horrified and terrified by what people would think about me. I had FAILED at being a wife, at being married. It was my most dirty and dark secret for awhile.
It took being in recovery for awhile to understand that I had also grown tremendously during that time. The marriage might have failed, true, but I myself was not a failure, and I had actually learned some important life lessons in the process.
Now when I have things in my life that don't work out the way I wish they had, I always look for the growth opportunity. Sometimes it's easy to see and refreshing, other times I am struggling against it and say thru clenched teeth "Oh goodie, another fabulous growth opportunity!"
Regardless of how I view it, the life lesson is there for the taking.
Great topic, Lilyflower!