The Privilege to Fail

“Don’t be afraid of failure. It’s natural,” they say.

But what if I am afraid?
What if the mere idea of failing makes my stomach twist and my mind spin?
What if failure not only holds me back, but also impacts the people who rely on me?

It’s simple to say failure is part of the process. It’s a lot more difficult when you can’t afford it.
Because for a lot of people, failure isn’t a lesson. It’s a luxury

I used to believe I was fearless. I risked, ventured down new roads, and wore my fearlessness like a badge. But I came to understand something significant:
I could afford to take risks because I had a safety net. There were others behind me willing to catch me if I fell. That safety net—my parents, my friends, my mentors—was a privilege.

And failure, I’ve realized, is a privilege not everyone has.

Some individuals can’t “just try again.” They have no second chances, no safety nets, no plan Bs. Failure doesn’t make them stronger. It kills them.

What if that privilege could be shared?

I recently visited an event at Atua Cebu, which was organized by Stellar PH, a startup enabler that’s building a thriving community of founders, innovators, and dreamers in Cebu City. They are not only building opportunities for success, but space where failure is survivable. A space where, if you fall, there’s someone who helps you stand up again.

That moment seemed like hope. It seemed like the start of a new form of safety net.

The right to fail does not mean that everything is given to me. It does not eliminate the requirement for discipline or hard work. But it does provide me with the opportunity to attempt, to fail, and to persevere.

One of the speakers was DJ Magik, a creator with close to 12 million TikTok followers. He spoke about the countless failures he had along the journey to where he is today. But what became apparent wasn’t how many times he fell. It was what allowed him to get up each time—the quiet determination of his wife’s undying support.

His story reminded me that although success is intensely personal, it is seldom done in isolation.
We all require people who have faith in us, particularly when the results are still uncertain.
Having such support matters. It means I can indulge in being a dreamer, to chase what I am passionate about, and to make genuine progress toward my aspirations.

The gathering was of individuals who are pursuing dreams and forging the future they believe in. To be around that was inspiring. And to imagine what’s to come—a larger community of people building not just for themselves, but for others who need a safety net, a second chance, and a community that supports them.

We hear a lot about being courageous enough to pursue dreams. Perhaps we need to discuss more about how to make those dreams accessible to others. How to make risk not so scary. How to create systems in which failure does not result in destruction.

Because yes, failure is part of the process.
But only if there’s somewhere to land.