An interesting paradox: an optimist who fails in ambition versus a pessimist who succeeds in pessimism.
Failure in the pursuit of ambition doesn’t bother me much. It usually means I tried something that mattered. I aimed higher than I could reach. That kind of failure stretches you. It teaches you. Sometimes it even moves you forward.
What I struggle with is a life built around playing small. Around expecting little. Around protecting yourself with doubt and calling it realism.
I would rather fail aiming high than succeed by aiming low.