“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett
I read an article this week reporting that new research shows our brains only learn from success. Fan-freaking-tastic. (Caution: Article = very science-y. Think MIT academics with the best brains in the world studying, you guessed it, brains.)
I was pretty bummed to see the headline. I’ve been trying to get on board with failure in an experiential way, and now I hear that no good comes out of it until I succeed. Quite motivating, huh?
Getting on board with risking failure from a theoretical perspective is easy enough. You’ve heard all the pithy morsels: You can’t win if you don’t play the game. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
I know. Meh.
Right before reading the article, during Dance of Shiva, I noticed something kind of puzzling. (Just as background, this is my preferred wacky form of yoga, and the practice feels a little like rubbing your tummy and patting your head. On steroids. And the idea is that the more befuddled you are, the more you learn.)
I had noticed before that when I become aware of doing it right, that self-consciousness usually breaks the flow and I mess up. And I took this as a sign to stop patting myself on the back, stop letting my darling, inner perfectionista rule the show. And feel free to radiate this realization out into every area of my life.
But this morning I noticed that, yes, I usually mess up when I become aware of doing it right. But then… when I notice that I’m messing up because I had noticed that I was doing it right, that’s when I screw up so completely that I can’t catch back up. Picture the awkward rhythm of a toddler bouncing to the beat with arms flailing. Minus the adorable.
I’m still quite the newbie to this practice, but I think part of its purpose is to build new neural pathways in our brain which alters our thought and belief system and, in turn, helps with changing habits and patterns.
Yes, I’m pretty geeked out over the science of neuroplasticity and the notion that it’s possible to physically alter the structure of our brains. Okay, sorry, I’m done. Here’s a much better/cooler/wiser explanation of neuroplasticity.
Anyway, I don’t think messing up, at Dance of Shiva or life, is what builds new neural pathways improves our lives. I think messing up helps corrode our old way of doing things. Then, mastering the awkward rhythm or challenging skill provides fresh perspective so that we can learn a new approach.
So after I’ve corroded the crappy neural pathways with my flailing, and built the new neural pathways with my mastery, that’s the success, right? Huh. Those clever neuroscientists.
So I am learning from success. And unlearning from failure, maybe?
If not, I can always follow the sage words of Stephen Colbert:
“If at first you don’t succeed, redefine what you did as success.”
Which is funny, and yet actually pretty powerful advice. But that is a another post.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this… I think because I totally understand. The “I’m doing it! I’m doing it! I’m NOT doing it…?” I used to practice Bharatanataym (complicated classical Indian Dance) and your above process was *exactly* how I saw my progress.
This is a big topic woman, great information. Thanks for processing and sharing 
Briana, your writing is original, edgy, deep, and provacative. Keep it up. Love it.
@Shamsi – Thanks so much, I love hearing that your process was the same (except, sorry you had to go through it
! And I checkout out your site – it’s lovely and I can’t wait to cruise around more.
@Sandy – you are the sweetest, thank you!
I like the way you tie this to rewiring our brains – I hadn’t thought about that before, but that is, in large part what we are doing when we practice ANYTHING. And, I really think, that trying anything new does constitute a success. Especially if we keep trying and are willing to suck at it for a while!! Thanks so much for your insights!!