Many of us have faced big failures in the past, but it’s important to bounce back and keep going. Learning from these failures is key. Take Rick Rubin, a producer of many Grammy-winning records; he knows that even great albums can flop, and average ones can become hits. His lesson: you can’t control how people react to your work, so focus on doing your best and staying true to your standards.

Failure can also push you to make positive changes. Steven Pressfield faced 15 years of rejection letters from publishers, but he turned it around by moving to Hollywood and improving his craft. Leo Babauta, feeling like a failure in 2005, transformed his life by developing healthy habits, reaching millions through his blog.

Failing can even give you freedom because it removes expectations. The Beastie Boys’ album Paul’s Boutique did poorly, but it gave them space to focus on music. Three years later, they released the successful Check Your Head.

When you survive failure, the fear of it lessens, making it easier to take risks. Patton Oswalt, a Grammy Award-winning comedian, suggests experiencing that first failure to start growing.