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Spirituality for the Politically IncorrectRaising Consciousness and Empowering People Author: Nancy Showalter
Hi, I'm Nancy Showalter. And this podcast is for you if you instinctively know that there is more to life than what you have been taught and you're not afraid to explore beyond conventional belief systems. Remember how everyone thought the world was flat and if you challenged that you were crazy? Or how people said if we were meant to fly God would give us wings? What about, "civilization is only four thousand years old," but science tells us differently? Very few of us are living to our fullest potential. I believe that is because most of us do not access the divinity within--the part that is one with our Creator. And how do we do that? That, and more, is what this podcast is all about. nancyshowalter.substack.com Language: en Genres: Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Society & Culture, Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Let Failure Refine You, Not Define You
Tuesday, 20 May, 2025
Hi, welcome back to my podcast—the place where truth cuts through the fluff, and we dive deep into the spiritual meaning behind what others might call everyday life.Today, we’re talking about something that everyone experiences but few are willing to admit or talk about openly: failure.Yes—failure. And not just the falling down part, but the fear that creeps in and tries to paralyze you before you even begin.Now before you hit pause or skip to the next episode, stay with me. Because what we’re really talking about here isn’t just failure—it’s transformation. It's about how you can stop letting failure define you, and start letting it refine you.So, let’s break this down. Psychologists, business leaders, spiritual teachers—they all agree on one thing: fear of failure is one of the biggest roadblocks to personal growth, success, and spiritual fulfillment.Preparing for the Fear of FailureSo, let’s begin with preparation—because every battle starts in the mind.The first step to overcoming fear of failure is redefining what failure actually is.What if failure wasn’t the enemy?What if it was a teacher?A spiritual initiation?A signpost that you're actually moving forward instead of staying stuck?In business, leaders have started calling failures “learning moments.” And spiritually, we can see them as, let’s say, karmic steppingstones—tools that chisel away the ego and bring out the soul’s brilliance.Like Michaelangelo said: "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."Shifting your mindset is critical in getting past a fear of failure. Here are a few mindset shifts that can help:First, redefine failure. It's not the opposite of success. It’s part of success. Think about this every time you flip on a light switch. It was not until 1879, a full 72 years after the first breakthrough experiment, that Edison, after about 2000 failed attempts, produced what we now call a “light bulb.” So, failure simply means, try a different approach.Second, find the “gold” in past failures. Every failed relationship, every lost opportunity—it taught you something you could not have learned otherwise. And this is challenging. It’s challenging you to forgive yourself for making a so-called mistake and focus on the positive outcome, which is, “What you are taking away from the experience?”Next, Stop seeing failure as a threat: Instead, see it as a challenge. Your soul doesn't evolve without challenges. A challenge is something that puts you to the test.Then, set “approach” goals, not “avoidance” goals: Now what I mean by this is, don’t set goals like “I hope I don’t mess this up.” Rather, set goals like “I’m going to learn something new today.” Feel the difference? It’s important what you say and what your words mean and convey to the Universe.Preparing this way shifts your frequency and perspective. You go from fear to curiosity. From contraction to expansion.Confronting the FearNow let’s talk about confronting fear in the moment—because preparation’s great, but at some point, you have to walk through the fire.You have to face the dragon and realize…it’s just a shadow.The first step is to develop that habit of letting the fear pass. Feel it—but don’t bond with it. Don’t become it. Think of emotions as visitors, not roommates. Let them pass through.If your plan isn’t working, don’t freeze. Adjust the plan. The only real failure is staying stuck. Changing goals in the middle of the journey doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re wise enough to adapt.And don’t forget the power of confidence. Real confidence isn’t arrogance. It’s remembering what you’ve already become. Think back to a time you thought you wouldn’t make it—but you did.Confidence is a spiritual resource. And the more you call it up, the stronger it gets. Listen to your intuition. Listen to that still small voice and connect with your Higher Self for confidence and direction.Recovering from FailureOf course, even with all the right tools and mindset, failure can still happen. That’s part of life on Earth. The question isn’t “Will I fail?” It’s “What will I do after I fail?”Here are three essential steps:Treat yourself kindly. I don’t mean to let yourself off the hook completely—but don’t beat yourself up either. You wouldn't berate your best friend for trying their best and falling short. Extend that same grace to yourself.Accept your mistakes. Own them. Not as a badge of shame, but as a stepping stone. This is how we learn. This is how we evolve.And learn from it all. Every single mistake holds a message. Look for it. Ask your Higher Self: What am I being shown here? What truth am I now ready to face?Spiritually, failure can be a form of purification. It dissolves pride, it forces our humility, and it invites grace. It's how we come to know what’s really important—and who we really are.If you're afraid of failing right now, let me offer you a new perspective:Maybe the fear is there because your soul needs to grow.Maybe the thing you're afraid of doing is the very thing that will open you up and birth a whole new level of who you are.So, redefine failure. Confront it with courage. And if you fall, fall forward. Rise again. Stronger. Wiser. More connected to the divine spark within you.Thanks for joining me today and if this episode spoke to you, share it with someone who's in the midst of a challenge. And remember—every so-called failure is just part of your path to greatness.Until next time, stay grounded, stay real, and stay spiritually awake—even when it’s politically incorrect to do so. Get full access to Spirituality for the Politically Incorrect at nancyshowalter.substack.com/subscribe
