I used to have a big problem with accepting "failure at" something as not being the equivalent of "being a failure." A lot of that is a result of my dysfunctional childhood. I have finally learned the difference! It's taken a great deal of work but I've gotten there.
For instance, an unfortunate side effect of leaving and divorcing xAH was that I almost unconsiously allowed myself to build up a whole mess of credit card debt. To the point where I really have to take some drastic actions to deal with it now. When I finally realized what a hole I had dug for myself, my first thoughts were along the lines of I'm a failure, I can't do anything right, blah, blah blah. Well the second line of thought, almost immediate BTW, was yup, you dug a hole, that was pretty stupid, now what can you do to get out of that hole?
I failed at managing my money wisely. I am not a failure.
