The idea that “mistakes” and “setbacks” are directly correlated to failure is one of the greatest fallacies of our age.
A child falling while they learn to walk or ride their bike is not a failure.
Many (perhaps most!) mistakes are good or necessary mistakes and the vast majority of setbacks contain information that can propel us forward.
However, it is often too difficult a process to change on our own. As Wittgenstein once wrote: “nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.”
Therapy is a gift that helps us work with our inner dialogue in a way that frees us from self-deceptions and allows us to embrace our potential.