Failure, hell yes! (+ when the wisest answer is silence)
Good morning lovely people. You’re reading the revamped The Bright Side newsletter, a bi-weekly dose of calm and clarity in a noisy world.
You can't outsource failure.
Words from David Hieatt that capture why success can't be taught.
He endured about 150 job interviews. Each rejection teaching what no one else could. Each 'no' necessary because he'd found something he loved.
2019. I realized my son's passports was expired. Boarding a flight to Mexico. Second flight, not our hometown, all federal offices closed for the holiday. Family friends already on their way to our shared Airbnb. 🤦♀️
Umm...there's no talking your way out of that moment
When someone is already carrying the weight of their mistake, they don't need us to add to their burden. They need us to help lighten it through understanding.
I felt pretty foolish, but my son was pretty cool about it.
And my friends too.
The way we respond to others' missteps shapes not just the experience but the depth of our connection.
The hardest part of watching others learn is knowing when to step back.
We know the answer.
We see the mistake coming.
We’ve been here many times before.
But rushing in with solutions doesn't help. It diminishes.
When someone's in the middle of their own beautiful mess, they don't need our wisdom.
They need our silence. Our presence.
And our faith in their capacity.
🙊 3 little things you can try
1. When you see the mistake — pause
2. When you know the answer — wait
3. When you want to fix it — trust
(Your restraint might be the greatest gift you give today.)
🔑 Resource you might appreciate
Insight from Harvard Business Review: leaders who resist jumping in with solutions build stronger teams. Maybe because trust grows best in the quiet moments.
So, the next time you're tempted to give advice, remember how it felt when someone believed in you enough to let you find your own way.
Wherever you are, whatever you're up to, hoping life is good. ☺️
