> I have had a number of failures at all phases of projects.

I have a life philosophy about this: failure is the path to success (I've never learned anything by being right).

It can be hard to maintain the mindset, but it's actually true -- we learn from our mistakes, so nothing is a failure as long as a lesson was derived from it.

If you can maintain that mindset, it takes a lot of the stress out of things!

In general I agree and I've preached the same. But the moment when you're holding the result of a month of weekends in your hands and you have to drop it in the trash can is tough.

Absolutely. That's what makes it hard. It feels like wasted time and effort.

I don't do woodworking, but I do fairly complicated electronics projects as a hobby, and a similar effect happens. I made a special display case where I put those failed projects on display, next to the final successful one. It reminds me that the failed example was just a stage in development and makes me feel better.

I wish I had the space for that with some of my projects. The expensive one was a desk with walnut, maple and resin. The resin cracked and discolored. The lesson was that when they say you can pour it 2 inches thick, you have to remember that they're liars, and to use a different brand and pour in 1/4 inch layers.

The final product was epic, and I use it every day, but the failed desk was too big to keep.

I can suggest pottery.In that case you are dropping it[1] every five minutes, so you get used to it :)

[1] recyclable as long as it is not fired.

Nobody is going to lose their job, die, or start a war because of our bad woodworking projects ;-)