Outgrowing Success: Redefining Failure as the Path to True Fulfillment

You might think your failures are proof of inadequacy, a sign that you’ve lost your way or that some fundamental part of you is broken. You’ve spent hours dissecting every misstep, convinced that the problem lies in your skills, your knowledge, or your capacity to make things work. But what if the problem isn't a problem at all? What if your so-called failures are the first signs of something greater stirring within you—a deeper knowing, a quiet revolution that’s just beginning to take shape?

This isn't about shortcomings. It’s about evolution.

When you start to notice that life, as you once knew it, no longer fits, you may think you’ve lost your grip. The goals that once defined you begin to lose their luster, the routines that used to comfort you now feel like chains. You might interpret this discomfort as failure, but it's more likely a signal that your deeper self—the part of you that craves more than just surviving and existing—is starting to emerge.

You're not failing. You're outgrowing.

There's a reason why you can't settle anymore. It’s because you’re no longer content with a life you can tolerate. Tolerating has been your baseline, a strategy for survival - a coping mechanism. You’ve gotten used to doing what’s necessary, what’s expected, what keeps things smooth and uncomplicated. But survival isn’t thriving, and deep down, you know it. A greater vision is calling you, one that won’t allow you to settle for less than what you truly want. And it’s in this moment, when you start questioning everything you once found acceptable, that you begin the transition from mere existence to something far richer and more meaningful.

This isn't a breakdown. It's a breakthrough. You are beginning to awaken.

You see, failure often precedes transformation. It's the necessary step before you shift from preparing for a consolation prize to gearing up for your victory lap. In these moments of doubt and disillusionment, something crucial is happening: you're rewriting your narrative. The old story—where you play it safe, meet expectations, and color inside the lines—is unraveling. And as uncomfortable as it feels, this unraveling is essential. It clears the space for something new, something that reflects the authentic you.

When you start moving toward a life you can’t get enough of, it won't be because you've learned to avoid failure. It will be because you've learned to see failure for what it really is: a nudge from your future self, urging you to step into a vision of life that’s bigger, bolder, and more aligned with who you truly are.

The discomfort, the frustration, the sense of being lost—these are all signs that you’re awakening and shedding an old skin. They are proof that you’re no longer willing to live in a way that dulls your edges, mutes your voice, or clips your wings. You’re ready for more, and this readiness manifests as a kind of restlessness that you can no longer ignore.

Embrace this agitation. Harness it to your future’s benefit.

Recognize that your deeper knowing isn’t a hindrance; it's a guide. Your failures aren’t setbacks; they're stepping stones. They are pushing you out of your comfort zone and into the arena where your true self can compete, not for second place, but for the win. You’re not meant to play small, to settle, or to simply get by. You’re meant to thrive, to live fully, and to reach for that life you can’t get enough of.

Every time you fail, ask yourself: what am I being prepared for? What greater vision is trying to break through? Instead of berating yourself for not measuring up to some arbitrary standard, start preparing for your victory lap. Because that's where you’re headed—not to a place of compromise, but to a place of fulfillment, of abundance, of deep, soul-satisfying success.

In the end, you won't remember the times you failed. You'll remember the times you refused to settle. You'll remember the moment you decided to move toward a life that lights you up, rather than one that dims your spark. And when you cross that finish line, you'll know that every so-called failure was really just a sign that you were on the right track all along.

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat (Fortune favors the bold)

Lawrence Montoya