There’s much we can learn about failure from the potter. 

She begins her process with a simple ball of clay. Sometimes she uses a wheel to form the piece she’s building, sometimes she shapes it using only her hands. 

She kneads the clay to get rid of any air pockets, then adds water as she begins to build her vessel – intensely focused on gently molding, bending, and shaping. 

Sometimes the process goes smoothly, but often, corrections must be made. It’s not unusual for her to throw the entire mess away and restart, patiently working the form until she finally begins to see her vessel take shape. 

Once she’s finished, it’s set aside for drying…but that’s not the end of the story.

The potter returns a while later to further shape, trim, and apply any glaze needed so the vessel is ready for firing, during which intense heat transforms what was once a simple pile of dirt into a beautiful work of art. 

Nothing we build with our lives is quick and easy. 

Intense focus, a willingness to do what needs to be done, and the guts to begin again if necessary…will eventually yield success. 

Today’s Peace of Wisdom can be found in staying the course.