[aenis]

Those things come with a cost. Erode self esteem and reinforce the idea that failure is a very real option, since "its easy to get back on the horse later".

My piano teacher tells me that every single mistake takes two successes to undo, and I think this is the same with habit forming. Keep failing and you are not going to get better at getting back on the horse, you will get better at quitting and accepting defeat.

[DavidPiper]

> Erode self esteem and reinforce the idea that failure is a very real option

I feel differently about failure. I think failure failure is always, constantly, an option. But that doesn't mean it should erode my self esteem.

I don't want to negate your piano teacher's advice, because I think there's an element of truth in there, and I'm not sure what your goals are. But as a fellow (hobby) pianist who gave it away for 5 years from burnout, I now prefer to follow Stephen King's advice:

"If there’s no joy in it, it’s just no good."

[thierrydamiba]

There’s also the problem where avoiding failure leads to more conservative goals. If you look at failure as a thing to avoid, you won’t try as hard as songs when you’re learning piano. You might get good, but you’ll never reach your potential.

[aziaziazi]

Reaching your potential may not be compatible with experiencing joy through. In my experience I’ve been happier and better at doing things I like doing.

Always wanted to learn playing guitar, interact socially or starting a business but boy those makes me so bored.

[thierrydamiba]

That’s a good point. Sometimes you do something just to do it.