We test ourselves constantly, every hour of every day, in various forms, and in pretty much everything we do. Working, playing, exercising, loving, dreaming. We test our proficiency and competitiveness, and how we have improved since the last test. We test how attractive we are to others and check that against how attractive other people are to us. We compare those results to the ones we recall from other times. We test our fitness and readiness, our physical and mental capacities. We test our intelligence and mental strength, our memory, and our thinking speed. We test ourselves through challenges, such as reading this article and checking if it is interesting enough for us to keep reading. Will it teach something new?
Each of these tests produces an answer. We may like some answers and hate others. Some tests will lead to improvements and gain, and others may result in defeat and stagnation. It is the latter of the two that require special attention. Accepting failure and removing oneself from testing translates to accepting mediocrity and halting progress. As emotional beings, this action has a good chance to cascade into other areas of our life and cause regression in them as well. The resulting cumulative damage may be costlier and harder to repair.
Success has many fathers; failure is an orphan. Avoiding being in that negative space requires awareness, drive, and support. But before we dive into ways of dealing with those test results, we need to clear a few facts about the tests themselves. Consider these parameters:
- Is the test applied fairly?
- Is the bar set too high?
- Are the right questions being asked?
- Is the test critical or even relevant to the important areas of your life?
- Are you interpreting the test results accurately?
If any of these take place, you could fail the test even though you are successful. In addition, it is completely acceptable to be average in some areas of your life – no one is a complete expert in everything they do, and if you try to, you might open that dreaded door we are discussing here.
With that established, we can return to the topic at hand. Even when the test results are undesirable, they can still be very useful. They identify a problem and may even point in a direction for improvement. Embarrassment, disappointment, and even shame can be normal responses to that, but they cannot be an excuse for inaction and acceptance of failure. Addressing the problem must be done promptly and effectively. Understanding the situation for what it is and realizing its facts is prime. Gathering resources, seeking support, and plotting a course for improvement comes next. Early intervention and proper response will help shore up the problem and prevent it from affecting other areas. Testing will continue forever. We must attend each exam. Keep your eyes on your own paper.