GRACE'S MUSINGS: Fail forward

Failure feels different for women - there’s no escaping it. Society has long conditioned us to view setbacks not as simple missteps but as defining judgments.

For many women, the fear of failure becomes a roadblock, stopping them before they even begin. It’s not just about falling short—it’s about fighting against a world that’s already betting against you.

Centuries of systemic inequality have wired women to play small, to second-guess their abilities, and to deny themselves opportunities they absolutely deserve.

The result? Precious time, energy, and sleep lost agonising over failures that others might easily brush aside as bad luck, market conditions, or someone else’s poor decisions.

Meanwhile, women often internalise those same failures, seeing them as evidence they were never good enough in the first place. It’s maddening. But recognising this disparity is the first step toward dismantling it.

The next step? Reclaiming failure and reframing it. Most failures aren’t catastrophic; they’re moments—inevitable, often necessary stepping stones in the messy and magnificent process of growth.

The truth is, we are so much more than our wins and losses. Success isn’t a straight line, and neither is life. So let’s allow ourselves to be flawed, brilliant, and courageous individuals who are unafraid to try, stumble, and try again.

Because every failure is a reminder of our resilience—and proof that we’re showing up for ourselves and the lives we want to lead.

Let’s stop wasting energy fearing failure and start celebrating the bravery it takes to embrace it.