Inspired by Tyler Perry’s words | By Tanisha L. Knighton, Ph.D. | COHR Psychologist & Associates
“I’ve never had a failure… because everything I thought was a failure or was there to destroy me was a wall in a maze that made me go another way.”
– Tyler Perry
When I first heard that quote, I paused. Sat with it. Let it settle. Because in this work (…and in this life) we’ve all hit walls. Personal, professional, emotional, spiritual. Moments when we’ve planned, prayed, pushed, and still found ourselves stuck, shut down, or completely rerouted. In those moments, it’s easy to label what happened as a failure. A misstep. A dead end. But what if, like Tyler Perry said, it wasn’t failure at all? What if it was just a wall in the maze?
The Wall Isn’t the End—It’s the Message
In therapy, we often talk about the stories people carry, especially the ones we tell ourselves when something doesn’t work out: “I must not be good enough.”, “Maybe I’m not built for this.”, “I messed up again.”, “I wasting time.” But here’s the thing: a wall doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means this way isn’t your way.
Sometimes the wall is there to protect you from something not meant for you. Sometimes it’s there to teach you something about how you move, what you tolerate, or what you’ve outgrown. And sometimes? It’s there to force you to pause and reimagine everything. The wall is information, not condemnation.
Reframing “Failure” with Curiosity, Not Shame
We’re conditioned to see success as a straight line. But real growth, especially healing, is rarely linear. It loops, detours, backtracks, spirals… and yes, sometimes slams us straight into a wall we didn’t expect. In those moments, the question isn’t, “Why did I fail?”. It’s, “What is this moment redirecting me toward?”
At COHR, we sit with those questions. We explore the grief, the frustration, the fear and then we look for the message. Because therapy isn’t about pretending everything happens for a reason. It’s about honoring that even the detours carry wisdom.
For the High-Achievers, Dreamers, and Doers
If you’ve been hitting wall after wall lately (i.e., personally, professionally, relationally) this is your reminder:
You are not off track.
You are not behind.
You are being redirected, with purpose.
That relationship that didn’t work out? That job that didn’t call you back? That season that felt like a dead end? It might be the very thing that nudges you into alignment with something better. Something more sustainable. Something that allows you to bring your whole self to the table, not just the performing version.
Final Thoughts: The Maze Isn’t Meant to Break You
We don’t always get to choose the path. But we can choose how we move through it, with reflection, resilience, and a willingness to reroute when the wall appears. So, the next time you hit that wall, don’t call it a failure. Call it what it is: a turn. A redirection. A moment of clarity in the maze. You’re not lost. You’re learning your way through.
Ready to process your maze with someone who sees you?
Click the link in our bio or call (330) 578-4855 to schedule a consultation.
#cohrpsych #DrTaLK #drtlk #TherapyIsHealing #RedirectionNotFailure #MentalHealthMatters #BIPOCHealing #TherapyForUs #TraumaInformedCare #ResilienceInTheMaze #RealTalkOnHealing
