Arjuna, one of the Pandava princes, was learning archery under the guidance of Dronacharya. As part of his training, Dronacharya placed a wooden bird atop a tree and asked his students to aim for its eye. Yes, this is that famous story about discipline, focus, and clarity. But hold on… there is a deeper twist to it. Keep reading… One by one, the students took turns aiming their arrows at the bird, but none of them hit the eye – their arrows fell short, missing the mark entirely. When it was Arjuna’s turn, he not only aimed at the eye but hit it exactly. His arrow pierced the eye of the bird precisely. After the shot, Dronacharya asked Arjuna why he was able to hit the target when no one else could. Arjuna replied that while aiming, he saw nothing but the eye of the bird – he did not see the bird, the tree, or anything else around it. His entire focus was on the target. This story is often told to highlight absolute concentration and single-minded focus. It has become a symbol of dedication, discipline, and the power of unwavering attention. So does this mean that all other students of Dronacharya were failures and never successful because Arjuna got it right in the first attempt? That’s the version we are told – yet no one might have truly verified whether this story is historical fact or a metaphor crafted to inspire us to draw lessons from ancient wisdom.
Here is another everyday example; think of a baby learning to stand for the first time. You might say, “Come on, such a simple thing – what’s the big deal?” Yet the child keeps trying again and again – falling, tumbling, failing countless times. There is no shame, no self-criticism, no ego whispering, “I can’t do this.” Every time the baby falls, they simply get up and try again. And we would say, “Of course, that’s how it happens.” It might take 50 attempts, 100 attempts, or even more – but eventually, the baby stands. Why? Because deep within, they know they are meant to stand. It is not just effort; it is destiny.
The failures are not obstacles; they are simply part of the process, the inevitable path to the goal. But is there any other path that will lead you to your chosen or even yet undecided destination in life? And even though you would agree to what I am writing here can this be truly followed in everyday process? Can we really let go of this temporary low-vibe feeling we allow to evolve within us when we fail while trying something? As I write this, I am wondering whether I am trying to convince you that it’s not a big deal if you fail a million times? And are you even agreeing to what I am saying here that it’s absolutely ok to fail again and again?
This is a powerful lesson – in life, failure is not a stopping point. It is proof of movement, of persistence, of something greater calling you forward. Just like the baby, you are meant to rise – no matter how many times you fall. And this will happen only if we go on and keep trying again and again. Failure, at its core, is just feedback. It’s life’s way of showing us that something didn’t work the way we expected. Yet, in our existence, failure is treated like a shadow – something shameful, something to be hidden or something not to be celebrated. Why?
1. Conditioning From Childhood From an early age, we are rewarded for ”getting it right.” Good grades, applause, promotions, praise – all are tied to success. On the other hand, mistakes or unsuccessful trials were punished or looked down upon. Slowly, we start equating failure with weakness, incompetence, or even unworthiness. This conditioning wires us to treat failure as “low” rather than neutral or part of life. 2. The Ego’s Fear of Being Seen The ego thrives on the image, that identity you might have created about yourself. It wants to be admired, respected, and validated. Failure threatens this carefully crafted identity. When we fail, the ego feels exposed; “What will people think of me?” This fear of judgment lowers our energy, not the failure itself. The “low vibe” is not in failing – it’s in the shame and self-criticism we attach to it. 3. Society’s Obsession With Success Stories Look around – the world celebrates success, not attempts; including you and me. We read about billionaires, gold medalists, or innovators, but rarely about the dozens of failures that shaped their path. This biased storytelling paints failure as undesirable, when in truth, it is the very soil from which growth takes root, yet society and its people prefer to admire only the flowering tree, never the roots that nurtured it. 4. Energy of Resistance What really lowers our vibration is resistance. When we fight against what happened – replaying it in our minds, regretting, blaming ourselves – we trap our energy in the past. Failure itself isn’t heavy; our refusal to accept it is. The moment we embrace it as a teacher rather than a verdict, the heaviness lightens.
Failure feels like a low-vibe only because our mind and ego attach permanence and shame to it. In reality, failure is neutral – it’s an event, not an identity. Our energy dips when we resist it, but rises when we accept it, learn from it, and move forward with the mindset that it’s not a big deal.So, we simply try again, holding on to the hope that one day we will stand and begin walking, just as any baby does. And life doesn’t end there whether a project concludes or a phase of life closes, we humans are inherently progressive. There is always something next, because mentally and physically, we cannot truly settle. This constant movement is not just a choice, it is our destiny.
Failure is often misunderstood as the opposite of success. In truth, it is part of the same journey. Every invention, every breakthrough, every story of resilience carries within it a trail of failures, right? The difference lies in perspective, those who rise from failure see it not as an end, but as a turning point, that’s it. When we truly accept that nothing in life stays fixed, failure loses its painful sting. It becomes a passing phase, not a permanent label. The sense of permanence we attach to the journey toward a goal exists only in our minds and it can be reshaped by transforming our mindset. This transformation begins with changing the beliefs that anchor us. One of the simplest yet most powerful ways to do this is through daily affirmations or journaling; small but profound acts that rewrite our inner story, moment by moment, belief by belief. But why, then, does failure feel so heavy? It’s because we attach permanence to it. We replay the mistake in our minds, relive the judgments of others, and trap ourselves in that one chapter of life. Yet life does not work that way. Just as day turns to night, losses can transform into lessons or distant memories, and breakdowns can give rise to breakthroughs. The moment we embrace impermanence, failure’s hold on our identity begins to loosen. Just as every day offers a fresh start, today is another chance to try again. And if you fail, try again and if you succeed, then ask yourself – what’s next?
Also let me bring your awareness to this – at the root of our struggle with failure lies the ego as through ego we build an identity for us. The ego wants to be right, to stay empowered, to be admired, to be seen as successful. When failure arrives, the ego feels attacked as if the setback is not about what happened but about who we are. This is why failure feels personal. Our ego whispers: “You’re not good enough.” “People will laugh at you.” “Your worth has gone down.” “You have lost your time..” But a gentle reminder to you that none of this is true. Failure doesn’t diminish your worth – it only challenges your perception. When the ego loosens its grip, failure is easier to accept. It turns from a threat to your identity into an opportunity to grow. Every time failure humbles the ego, you step closer to freedom. And this is a continuous process, success will build your identity and failure will humble you down. This wear and tear is life, accept it my friend.
Freedom from failure doesn’t mean you will never fail again. It means that if this blog is making sense to you then you might no longer see failure as something to fear hurting your ego. You step into life knowing that challenges will come, outcomes will shift, and not everything will go as planned. And yet, nothing stays forever; neither success nor failure. That is the flow of life. When you accept that nothing is constant in life, you gain the freedom to keep moving, keep growing, and keep trying. Failure then becomes just another moment in the cycle of change; temporary, transformative, and never the end.
So the next time failure knocks, remember: it’s not your ego under attack – it’s life gently reminding you to begin again. Keep going, because you are alive, and you are here to fulfill your destiny. Do not stand in your own way.
