Wisdom tells me that failing is the way to a better life. So then I begin to ask my brain, what does it mean to fail, and how to fail intelligently.

    Human beings are the only creatures who are allowed to fail. If an ant fails, it's dead. But we're allowed to learn from our mistakes and from our failures. And that's how I learn, by falling flat on my face and picking myself up and starting all over again. If I'm not free to fail, I will never start another book, I'll never start a new thing.

L'Engle

    Then my mind returns with a search result for the scientific method, with the condition that not all failures are predetermined and all things to be tried are known. Accidental failures happen too. Well, let's try the scientific method first.

    In the context of the scientific method, we postulate a hypothesis first then see if it works in reality. The test may succeed or it may fail, or it may have both successes and failures at the same time. You never know and thus you cannot control the outcome of the test. To fail or succeed doesn't matter, only the attempt matters. The activites which one goes through to determine success or failure. Repeatedly asking questions and answering them, or persistence is the virtue towards success.

    My mind calls to attention :

Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.

Samuel Johnson

    This way of failing is knowing that it's the result of some activity, but the elusive part of this is observing data. Specifically in the case of ourselves, it's about self-awareness. We must be self-aware in order to gather data before and after the test. Success or failure don't matter as long as we have the data about ourselves from the event to proceed with. If we dont' have this data, or if we lost it, then we keep succeeding or failing the same say.

    As for the accidental success or failure, the timing of the result is unexpected, but as long as we are self-aware, we can learn and move forward.

    To fail means that you tried, and to fail intelligently mean that you were self-aware to collect the data. This is how we can change ourselves and adjust our beliefs to achieve our success defined by our values.

    This site and this site has helpful tips on how to fail the smart way.