For some obscure reason, most people are generally inclined to hesitate on taking decisive actions toward their envisioned and just goals, often paralyzed in decision-making by the fear of failure, self-doubt and most commonly, inner resistance₁.

Failure is an inherent prerequisite for success, a principle evident not only in the evolutionary trajectories of living organisms but also in the history of celestial bodies. In our everyday language, it may be time to reconsider the term ‘failure’ and replace it with a more inclusive and constructive word, as what is often perceived as failure is, in fact, an integral step in the journey toward success. Even when a particular step does not immediately appear to contribute to the progress of success, it may later be recontextualized to serve a different purpose. Thus, one could argue that there is no true waste in, so-called, failure; it simply requires a deeper examination to uncover its potential in retrospect.

Let’s consider a broader perspective for a moment—one that includes the formation and evolution of planets in our solar system. In our planetary system’s early days, Mars and Mercury (yes, most likely, Mercury as well despite its smaller mass*) may have resembled Earth, with oceans, water, and perhaps even thriving life.₂ However, due to its smaller size, these planets couldn’t sustain favorable conditions, eventually transforming into the red and gray, barren planets we know today. A mistake of nature?

In contrast, Earth continues to support a vast ecosystem of life, demonstrating that, in some instances, success aligns with specific conditions and perseverance. Mars, though no longer able to harbor favorable conditions as Earth does, still holds significant value in respect to the future, reminding us that what may appear as a failure might yet serve a purpose in ways we cannot yet fully predict. Today, visionary thinkers like Elon Musk are exploring the possibility of revitalizing Mars, aiming to use it as a new frontier for life beyond Earth.

The lesson here is that mistakes are an essential part of progress. Missteps in our ventures become like spare planets in our mental orbit, continually lingering in our minds, with its lessons, and influencing our decision-making processes. These experiences may resurface in new contexts, offering insight or sparking new ideas.** In the end, even what seems like a failure may find renewed purpose and value in the journey forward. Therefore, we must persist with bold action and a resolute philosophy in our endeavors and projects, without hesitation.

* Research suggests that Mercury was originally positioned in a more habitable zone within the solar system, perhaps closer to Earth, Venus and Mars. However, due to gravitational influences from Jupiter, Mercury is predicted to have been eventually displaced from its initial orbit, ultimately adopting its slightly varying erratic orbit observed as of today. This hypothesis is supported by geological data collected by The Mercury Atmosphere and Surface Composition Spectrometer (MACS) and the Mercury Dual Imaginig system (MDIS) abroad NASA’s Messenger₃, a mission which took place from 2004 until its intentional impact on the planet’s surface in 2011. Messenger’s findings revealed the unexpected abundance of sulphur and potassium on Mercury’s surface. Given Mercury’s proximity to the Sun, these minerals should have evaporated long ago, yet they remained in notable abundance, suggesting that Mercury may have once been more hospitable to life, thus in an orbit further away from the Sun. Additionally, water basd ice formations have been detected in permanently shadowed craters near Mercury’s poles, where sunlight never penetrates to—a discovery that further supports the possibility of a once more temperate and life-supporting environment on the planet.₄

** As Elon revived the value of planet Mars.

Footnotes:

1. For more reading on the inner resistance that tends to sabotage us from achieving our goals, please read The War on Art, by Steven Pressfield
2. Except from The Planets by Andrew Cohen with Prof. Brian Cox, pp. 15: “… Four billion years ago, as life began on Earth, Mars was also Earth-like. It had oceans and rivers and active geology and complex surface chemistry; the ingredients of life. One of the primary goals of the fleet of spacecraft currently in orbit around and exploring the surface of Mars is to search for evidence of past or even present life, and to understand why the red planet was transformed from a potential Eden at the dawn of the Solar System to the frigid desert world we observe today. The story is complex, but one of the most important differences between the two worlds is size. …”
3. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/messenger/
4. Reference: The Planets by Andrew Cohen with Prof. Brian Cox

Image Credits:

Image 1: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington