Winning, reaching goals, and checking off milestones – these all sound like things worth celebrating, right!?  What about the missteps, mistakes, and “failures” that shape us just as much as the triumphs. As a culture, the importance of recognizing the full journey – including both successes and “failures” – is often forgotten. Both deserving of celebration, reflection, and understanding, as two sides to the same coin of growth.

Notice, I also put “failure” in quotation marks, because I really don’t know if there is such a thing. Or, rather, is a “failure” a construct built on rigid expectations and narrow definitions of success, depending entirely on perception. What gives failure its bite is often not the event itself, but the meanings we, as humans, attach to it. Maybe “failure” as we know it doesn’t exist at all. It’s just a misunderstood teacher, disguised in discomfort, inviting us to grow in ways we wouldn’t otherwise choose. A learning moment, not a measure of a person.

Either way, it is my thought that we need to celebrate both – the clear successes and the misunderstood concept of failure.  Both require courage, tenacity, and hard work. Both deserving of celebrations.

When celebrating success, it’s important to celebrate not just “big wins.” Even small victories – finishing a tough day, speaking up in a meeting, or sticking to a habit – deserve recognition. These are the bricks that build lasting confidence.

Likewise, instead of looking at the pain failure may bring, look at what it teaches us. Instead of looking at it as something that brings shame, disappointment, or shutting down, it can be just as powerful in building confidence:

• Every failure is a powerful teacher. It highlights what didn’t work, shows us blind spots, and pushes us to adapt.
• Embracing failure helps us build emotional strength and perseverance.
• Some of the world’s most transformative ideas came from failed attempts.
• Sharing and celebrating failure removes the stigma and reminds us that everyone stumbles – it’s part of being human.

Celebrating failure doesn’t mean glorifying mistakes or ignoring consequences. It means recognizing the courage it took to try, analyzing what went wrong without self-judgment, and committing to improve.

Whether in a workplace, a classroom, or a family, it’s crucial to build a culture where both successes and failures are openly acknowledged and appreciated.

3 tips on how to appreciate both:

1. Encourage Open Dialogues – allow people to share their wins and losses without fear.
2. Reward Effort, Not Just Outcome – highlight persistence, creativity, and risk-taking.
3. Create Routines – hold weekly reflections or “failure forums,” or take part in gratitude journaling to document what is learned from and appreciated in both wins and losses.

If a leader or a parent, demonstrate by example. Leaders and mentors who share their own failures model vulnerability and growth.

Celebrating both failures and successes leads to a fuller, more authentic experience of life. It teaches us that progress isn’t a straight line, and that every step – whether forward, sideways, or back – has value. By embracing the whole journey, we create space for deeper learning and greater resilience.

The real challenge isn’t avoiding failure – it’s rewriting its meaning. When we stop fearing failure, we give ourselves permission to try, to risk, and to live more fully. When we celebrate both successes and failures, as the same coin of growth, we can live a life with more confidence, contentment, and opportunities for joy.

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