One commonality within the human struggle is the need to be better; better than oneself, better than others. People are constantly on the hunt for ways to improve their lives and to feel “complete.” Our drive for success itself is not a downfall. Life and the pursuit of happiness (usually) go hand-in-hand. Where human beings often fall short of finding fulfillment is in their misunderstanding of what it means to fail, and their discomfort with doing so.
“To fail” has, for many, become synonymous with being a “failure.” We assume too quickly that our – even little – mistakes define us. To err would then mean we are imperfect and we assume that our imperfections can never allow us to be whole. What Tao Te Ching is describing in “Twenty-two” contradicts such a limiting mindset. The author not only accepts the fact that people will fumble and, even fall: he encourages them to. “Yield and overcome; Bend and be straight;” without stopping or without twisting out of line at times, where is there any room left to recover and advance? Without any missteps one would walk too effortlessly, too quickly. “Wear out and be new;” lose strength and regain it; feel like you cannot move no longer and somehow keep going. The easy path is not the best, the right one. Life is never easy. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace our mistakes and learn from them. Move on and prevail.
Another strong theme in the poem, “Twenty-two,” is the importance of staying humble. This applies to when we experience periods of success, but really, the author is speaking generally. “The wise embrace the one And set an example to all. Not putting on a display, They shine forth… Not boasting, They receive recognition.” Boasting not only makes those around us insecure, but it also reveals that one feels as if they need to prove themselves to others. If you live your own life, with modesty, you will no longer fear that failure and its implications for how you may look in other peoples’ eyes. Once you’ve accepted yourself and your flaws, what else can stop you from being “complete”? “Be really whole, And all things will come to you.”
The idea of being afraid to fail truly resonates with me because i used to struggle with this. When i was younger my immigrant parents had a tendency to drill the concept of failure as plain out unacceptable into me. To them, at the time, literally one wrong move could undo years of diligent work. Although i completely understand where they were coming from, this type of parenting isn’t right. I believe that kids should be taught from young ages that they won’t always be or more importantly have to be “perfect” and the “best” at everything they do. There’s nothing wrong with trying new things and realising that they just weren’t meant for you. Life has so much more in store for us, that there’s no need to be sitting at home and beating yourself over some silly mistakes and failures. As you said “Life is never easy. Instead of fearing failure, we should embrace our mistakes and learn from them.”
I have found that the theme of staying humble can be found in many of Tao Te Ching’s poems. I think that many feel the need to prove their worth or their accomplishments to others, and tend to be too concerned with how they are perceived. I agree that once you accept your flaws, you no longer feel the pressure of trying to be seen as perfect. Living life modestly allows us to accept our mistakes and learn from them in order to better ourselves. It also enables us to focus on ourselves without comparing our own achievements to those of others’, and once we stop comparing we can work on our own individual goals. Everyone has had different experiences that have shaped who they are; there is no single formula that defines someone as ideal.