Voice of the Higher Self

Failure is the key to success. A phrase often heard but seldom experienced. Failure helps us understand where we went wrong, where we can improve and where we can try again. But the most discomforting part of looking into failure is confronting the feelings of embarrassment and fear. A natural response to the situation may be “why did I attempt it? Why did I put myself in that situation in the first place?” At this point, the feelings of regret and self-pity come flowing in. This makes us push away from the world and our own selves just so we don’t have to confront the situation.

In my case, the feelings of despair and dejection are so intense and lasting that they would scar me for good. My confidence and faith in myself would take a hit, and I would end up feeling guilty for those whom I have failed. These were the people that trusted me and always wished well for me and I let them down i.e. my family. Such incidents would always haunt me, affecting me both emotionally and physically.

It is not that I haven’t experienced success, but the thrill of success has never felt as intense and lasting as the hurt and regret of failure. However, the concept of two birds has shown me a path towards peace and harmony. When faced with similar situations, I now try to detach myself from them and view them through the eyes of another me that is not judging but rather evaluating the situation.

I now understand that failure is as much a possibility as success when you are experimenting or just doing your regular duties. I try not to be judgmental of the situation and look at myself from a higher mind where I can see the failure from a different perspective. When I get a broader view I see the situation not in an absolute manner, but with its relatedness to everything animate and inanimate around it.

It was a great revelation that the other (higher) self has always been inside me, yet I failed to realize its presence and continue to be tortured by my lower self. I realized that there is something latent within me that needs to be awakened and that I have the strength to focus all my energy towards a higher purpose.

I am still not an expert at brushing off the feelings that come from failing, but I did come out of the feeling of self-criticism and I stopped punishing myself. I know now that there is a higher purpose related to my core values, which stands the test of time and can endure the spontaneity of my lower self. By continuously reminding myself to be the non-judgmental witness in times of despair, I feel, I will be able to regulate my emotions and hear the voice of my higher self.