Denzel Washington stated
“Fall forward. Sometimes, it’s the best way to figure out where you’re going. Never be discouraged, never hold back, give everything you got, and when you fall throughout life remember this: fall forward.”
When I think about this, I hope if I fall - I fall forward if only to see what I’m about to hit, but that’s not always what life gives us. We sometimes encourage others to lean left and right, but we aren’t always sure if there will be someone there to catch us or if they have the bandwidth to catch us. I’ve fallen and failed many times and it is through my failures in life that I’ve probably learned the most. We are not in control and we need to lean left and right to ask for help. It takes discernment to know what and how we can control. I’m learning that my attitude is one of the few things I can control and when I fail /fall, I need to pick up the pieces, check my attitude and move forward with a greater understanding of how to do it next time better with those around me.
Today as you go through your day, whether you fall/fail or soar, be sure to look forward and check your attitude. Only you can control your response to whether you get back up or you reach the sky!! Give everything and never hold back! A friend of LivingWell

FAQs
What does falling forward mean? ›
What Does it Mean to Fall Forward? The concept of falling forward is not a new one — it's simply a way to describe leaning into our failures or challenges and using them as a learning tool to continue growing.
What is an example of failing forward? ›Thomas Edison had 1,000 failed attempts at creating the lightbulb before finding success. Walt Disney was fired from a job because his employer thought he lacked imagination. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Fortunately, they used those situations as an opportunity to fail forward.
What does John Maxwell mean by failing forward? ›That's where John's idea of failing forward comes in. It's about seeing failure at the horizon, but still moving ahead with confidence. Here are 3 lessons to help you change your perspective: Even if a failure isn't your fault, take responsibility for your future success.
What are the benefits of failing forward? ›Failing forward is about learning from the experience, which helps you to grow and develop in the future. Not all failures lead to future success – some mistakes are lessons that teach us what we don't want, or how not to approach a situation.
What causes a person to fall forward? ›Weak muscles. Our muscles gradually get weaker as we get older, affecting our strength and balance and making it more difficult to undertake daily activities. As well as normal changes caused by ageing, there are a number of reasons why our muscles get weaker, including: lack of physical activity and exercise.
What is falling forward a metaphor for? ›Falling forward means that I am still progress. It means that I am learning. And it means that I can pick myself up and keep on going.
What is a fail forward mindset? ›To fail forward means to purposefully and deliberately use failure to find success. It's a conscious process that first requires us to give up the obsessive need to be perfect. Life is perfectly imperfect, and so are we.
What are the 3 types of failure? ›- Preventable failure: a failure caused by deviating from a known process. ...
- Complex failure: a failure caused by a system breakdown. ...
- Intelligent failure: a failure caused by an unsuccessful trial.
- Give yourself permission to feel. ...
- Practise self-compassion. ...
- Reflect on the experience and adopt a growth mindset. ...
- Revisit your goals and create a plan for the future.
Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.. This famous quote by John C Maxwell has perhaps been one of the most treasured quotes on success for me.
Who coined the phrase failing forward? ›
The concept of learning from your mistakes isn't a new one. In fact, many leadership books have been written on the topic, including John Maxwell's “Fail Forward,” Ryan Babineaux's, “Fail Fast, Fail Often” and many more.
How do you fail forward? ›- Determine the Possible Challenges. Begin by determining the exact stumbling blocks between you and your success. ...
- Develop a Strategy. ...
- Educate Yourself. ...
- Seek Advice. ...
- Reflect on Your Why. ...
- Live Life With No Regrets. ...
- Celebrate Your Small Wins. ...
- Learn From Each Day.
Failing at something forces us to acknowledge where we have room to improve. This can make us stronger and more resilient as we advance one step closer to success. Failure is a only a pit stop. With perseverance, you will make it across the finish line.
Why is it important to rise again after failure? ›By learning and growing from our failures, we thrive, step outside of our comfort zone, and gain new perspectives. Failure is ever-present in life – from the moment we take our first steps to our present life. It helps us grow and makes us stronger.
Why is failing better than winning? ›Failure is an opportunity. It's a chance to reevaluate and come back stronger with better reasoning. Failure is not fatal. No matter how hard it may be know that failure simply means you get another shot to try it all again.
Why do I fall forward when bending over? ›A person's sense of balance is regulated within the inner ear. Ear infections or injuries can cause a person to feel dizzy when standing or bending over. Simple infections are a common cause, but a person could also have an inner ear problem called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPP).
Why am I losing my balance as I get older? ›Inside the inner ear is the vestibular system, where we perceive balance. This system connects to the brain, which gives us a message when we are about to fall and directs the body to take corrective action. But with age, cells in the vestibular system die off, affecting our ability to correct our position.
How do you stop a forward fall? ›- Start in a low squat position.
- Lean forward and place your palms flat on the ground in front of you.
- Push off the ground with your legs and move your weight forwards.
- Your legs will go over your head.
- Keep your back rounded and gently try to land on a shoulder.
- collapsing.
- decreasing.
- descending.
- lowering.
- plunging.
- sliding.
- tumbling.
- weakening.
Crashing is also a very common metaphor for failing. When we fail we crash; crash and burn; hit the buffers; go down like a lead balloon; nosedive.
How do you describe falling on the ground? ›
Plunge or plummet are verbs that are used when someone or something falls suddenly and a long way down or forward. Plunge can also be used when someone or something falls into something else.
What are the 4 modes of failure? ›For mechanical devices, there are four Failure Mechanisms: corrosion, erosion, fatigue and overload. While those Failure mechanisms exists many places in nature, they may or may not be present in the specific working environment of an asset.
How do you show a forward thinker? ›- Stay focused on a plan. Having a plan to focus on is the first step. ...
- Lean on industry and peer-to-peer networks. There is no better time to lean on your network than when you're feeling lost, uncertain or overwhelmed. ...
- Control your news feed. ...
- Find the energy in others. ...
- Get away.
Intelligent failures are those that result in useful learning, allowing us to move forward more wisely. As we build this skill of intelligent failure, we create room to innovate, knowing any risks we take will only lead to learning and growth.
What are the 5 stages of failure? ›- Stage 1: Shock and Surprise.
- Stage 2: Denial.
- Stage 3: Anger and Blame.
- Stage 4: Depression.
- Stage 5: Acceptance.
- Stage 6: Insight and Change.
To fail to perform essentially means that we are not able and, therefore, not worthy. Professor Covington found that, if a person doesn't believe he or she has the ability to succeed (or if repeated failures diminish that belief), then that person will engage in practices that seek to preserve his or her self-worth.
How do I rebuild my life after greatest failure? ›- Use your to-do list to boost your confidence. ...
- Separate your value from your work. ...
- Develop — and depend on — a mutual support group. ...
- Remember that no one cares about your failures as much as you do. ...
- Be mindful of burnout. ...
- Believe in the possibility of future success.
- Accept responsibility for your own failure. ...
- Recognize when you haven't succeeded. ...
- Make sure the pieces from your failure have been sufficiently picked up. ...
- Remind yourself of your past successes. ...
- Make a decision. ...
- Forget the past and focus on the future.
- Forgive yourself for not having the foresight to know what you do now. ...
- Focus on being self-compassionate. ...
- Stop judging yourself. ...
- Turn your failures into goals. ...
- Give yourself a hug. ...
- Imagine yourself as a young child, full of innocence and beauty.
The philosophy can also be called fail early, fail better, test early or fail cheaply.
What does failing upwards mean? ›
to advance in one's career despite failures quotations ▼
Who said fail when you stop trying? ›Albert Einstein said, “You never fail until you stop trying.”
What is successful failure paradox? ›The Icarus paradox is a neologism coined by Danny Miller in his 1990 book by the same name. The term refers to the phenomenon of businesses failing abruptly after a period of apparent success, where this failure is brought about by the very elements that led to their initial success.
What did Denzel Washington say about failing? ›Denzel Washington's 2011 commencement speech to the alumni of the University of Pennsylvania is both heartfelt and inspirational; he implores the graduates, “Do you have the guts to fail? If you don't fail, you're not even trying. To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.”
Why is it essential to embrace failure? ›Everyone who tries fails at some point. That's how they know they're trying. Embracing failure is often the critical first step on the road to success. And for many who failed and then persevered, looking back on that initial failure is a cause for celebration.
How do you fail intelligently? ›- Acknowledge the context. ...
- Accept it as a learning opportunity. ...
- Reflect on the reason for your failure. ...
- Don't make the same mistake twice. ...
- Give yourself time to absorb it, but be resilient. ...
- Consider alternative scenarios and outcomes. ...
- Don't keep your failures a secret. ...
- Ask for an explanation.
- Embrace Your Emotions. Astrakan Images / Getty Images. ...
- Recognize Unhealthy Attempts to Reduce Pain. ...
- Practice Healthy Coping Skills. ...
- Acknowledge Irrational Beliefs About Failure. ...
- Develop Realistic Thoughts About Failure. ...
- Accept an Appropriate Level of Responsibility. ...
- Research Famous Failures. ...
- Ask Yourself What You Can Learn.
God is not surprised by our failures. He has never expected anything but failure from every person who has ever lived or ever will.
What the Bible says about overcoming failure? ›Failure is neither fatal nor final. In fact, the fear of failure is often worse than the experience itself. Proverbs 24:16 says, “A righteous man falls seven times and rises again.” Even the righteous man falls and gets up seven times. He just rises again; it's OK.
Can failure change a person? ›"We learn more from our failures than from our successes. Not only do we find out what doesn't work so that we can adjust our future attempts, we learn about ourselves in the process and gain a bit of empathy towards others that might be struggling as well." People have studied failure.
Why do most people fail? ›
Fear of success and/or failure
Such people lack belief in themselves and in their potential. In their mind, if they fail, everyone will think negatively of them. And if they succeed, people will be envious and think negatively of them. So it becomes a lose-lose situation no matter how they look at it.
Let's look at why some people are more successful than others. It's probably the four different factors that contribute to success: intelligence, social skills, work ethic and luck. Each of these factors plays an important role in determining who succeeds and who doesn't.
Why do only few people succeed? ›Unsuccessful people don't value their time. They are everywhere, anywhere, anytime because they lack the ability to dedicate their time towards their goals. And year after year they make new promises which never come to fruition simply because they couldn't be bothered to put in the time required towards their goals.
Do successful people fail a lot? ›Failure is, inevitably, part of any success story. Those at the top have pasts littered with start-ups that went under or ideas that never got off the ground. The greatest risks yield the greatest reward, but you have to risk it over and over again until you create something that sticks.
Can a failure ever lead to success? ›Failure can turn into success solely because of the option to try again repeatedly. Determination and focus often increase after experiencing setbacks, especially when you are close to attaining your ambition. You might accomplish your goal on the second attempt or it might take several tries.
What to do when you've failed at everything? ›- Start facing challenges instead of running away. Gradually expose yourself to situations where you can succeed, to break the pattern and reinforce success.
- Connect with your goals, aspirations and talents. ...
- Make a plan. ...
- Risk failure. ...
- Speak to someone. ...
- Try our Self-care courses.
for'-werd for'-werd-nes (hale'ah, naca`; spoudaios): As an adverb "forward" has the meaning of "onward" in space or time, or in the movement of affairs. As an adjective it has the sense of "readiness," "willingness," etc. The adverb only is found in the Old Testament.
Why we tend to fall forward when it stops suddenly? ›When the running bus stops suddenly, the passengers are jerked forward because due to inertia of motion the passengers tend to remain in their state of motion even though the bus has come to rest. Q.
What does it mean when a person is forward? ›: lacking modesty or reserve : brash. Poorly disciplined children are often distressingly forward.
What does God say about pressing forward? ›Nephi answers, “Ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” (2 Nephi 31:20). Pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ means having faith in Him.
What God says about moving forward? ›
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
How does God want us to move forward? ›Moving Forward With God Means Letting Go Of What Is Familiar
For example, sometimes when we lose jobs or when a relationship ends. No matter what happens, we must remember that God never changes. Moving forward with God means we are willing to remember that God is good, He loves us, and He has a plan.
Falling directly on your back can cause serious injury to it. A frontal fall can cause damage to the head, face, and arms. By landing on your side you can reduce the chance of injury from high distances (for example, one way vertical paths).
How can I look forward to life again? ›- Do something for yourself. ...
- Put it in the calendar. ...
- Treat yourself. ...
- Plan your exercise. ...
- Try a weekly 'work-in' ...
- Make your week look like a week. ...
- Focus on the long run. ...
- Support for you.
- You can't change the past, but you can change the future. ...
- You'll miss out on opportunities if you're always looking back. ...
- When you look back, you aren't moving forward. ...
- Learn the lessons. ...
- Forgive yourself. ...
- Set goals. ...
- Schedule time to reminisce. ...
- Practice gratitude.
This is due to inertia. When the speeding bus stops suddenly, lower part of the body comes to rest while the upper part of the body tends to maintain uniform motion. Hence, the passenger's are thrown forward.
Why does a person in a car tend to fall forward when it stops suddenly * 1 point a warn him to wear seat belts B inertia of motion c inertia of rest'd inertia of direction? ›The correct answer is Inertia of Motion. If a moving car suddenly stops, then the passenger falls in a forwarding direction because the passengers who had inertia of motion, oppose a change in their state. However, the lower portion of their body comes to rest with the bus.
Why do we fall backwards when a car suddenly starts? ›When the bus accelerates from rest: When a bus abruptly starts moving, the passengers tend to slide backward due to inertia, as the passenger's inertia tends to oppose the bus's forward motion. Hence, the passenger tends to fall back when the bus accelerates forward.
What do you call someone who is very straight forward? ›adj.honest. adj.simple, easy.
What is a characteristic of a person who is forward looking? ›If you describe a person or organization as forward-looking, you approve of the fact that they think about the future or have modern ideas.
Why is it good to be a forward thinker? ›
You need to become more forward-thinking because it will allow you to better adapt to change and problems that come your way. By being on top of things at all times, you will improve yourself as well as those around you by helping them through difficult situations.