The gentle art of transforming failure

WE ALL FALL OVER; IT’S OK. LET IT GO.

There were three pages left blank on my FUSE layout with only a few days to go before my editorial deadline — they were labelled ‘Alex to write a spiritual article’. I’ve been struggling and kept telling myself, “How can I possibly share any wisdom when I’ve fallen over again”. So, the pages remained blank. What could I possibly share?

My ego had firmly taken the reigns and lapped up all those delicious negative feelings it loves so much. As I lamented my failures to my partner Christopher and filled the room with reasons why I could not possibly write a ‘spiritual article’, he kindly pointed out that the best stories are personal ones, and what could be more personal than what I am experiencing right now? Start where you are. He was right, of course, and had unknowingly also helped me back up off the floor. Love is pretty powerful stuff. I spent the next few days thinking about what it means to fail and fall, what I had forgotten, and why it is often difficult to get back up again.

By Alexander Thatcher