Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. —Machiavelli Mistakes of ambition: -failing on a big goal -creating something nobody wants Mis… - James Clear

Balancing success and failure is a tricky thing.

I'd say 8 or 9 times out of 10, you should be succeeding. Build momentum. Accumulate advantages. Feast on the feeling of success and let it feed your desire to do more.

But 1 or 2 times out of 10, you should be failing. Push yourself and reach beyond your current grasp. Force yourself to try uncomfortable things. Occasionally you will surprise yourself and the rest of the time you will learn.

Win enough to keep progressing. Lose enough to keep learning.

I once heard a story about a man who uses a wheelchair. When asked if it was difficult being confined, he responded, “I’m not confined to my wheelchair — I am liberated by it. If it wasn’t for my wheelchair, I would be bed-bound and never able to leave my house.” This shift in perspective completely transformed how he lived each day.

In the gym, if you experience no stimulus your muscles won't grow. If you step under 10,000 pounds your body will break.

Life is similar.

Too much challenge makes life hard, but so does too little.