The reality of life is that things don’t always work out the way we would like and expect.
We might find ourselves in a job that wasn’t what we hoped for. The business we invest in might not take off. The relationship we form could come to an end.
We are met with disappointments and failures that come in many different forms. When this happens, we can easily sink into despair, depression or self-pity.
However, there are better ways to deal with failures that will not leave you broken.
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1. Accept that things don’t always work out the way you hope
The truth is that no matter how much we can plan, prepare and invest, life is still always unpredictable.
The things we aim for might not go according to plan and that’s okay. This happens to everyone. No one is immune to having been disappointed in life.
That’s why you have to be okay with the fact that these things happen. Sometimes, you might fail at your pursuits. Accepting that this is a normal part of life is what will help you to move on because you’ll know that you can still be okay.
2. Consider what you can learn from the failed situation/endeavor
Another way to help you deal with failures and disappointments is to evaluate what the experience has taught you. In every situation, there is always something to learn and gain even though it doesn’t work out.
So if you find yourself in a predicament that wasn’t what you wanted, ask yourself what you know now that you didn’t know before?
Considering what you can learn from a situation is beneficial because it gives you a better outlook on life. It gives you a mindset that is seeking personal growth.
That way, you don’t see yourself as a failure because something doesn’t work out. Rather, you access what went wrong, what you learned and how you can use that moving forward.
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3. Reach out to others and learn from their experiences
When we face difficulties and challenges that deter us from vision, we can feel embarrassed and ashamed. It can be easy to want to keep things to yourself and wallow in self-pity.
However, it is better to reach out to others. It’s great to seek advice and mentorship from others who are doing what you aspire to do. When you seek advice from others, you learn from their experiences.
You can also take comfort when they share their struggles and failures. You’ll know that you are not alone in having gone through disappointments. It’s always good to reach out to others. Reach out to people you value, admire and trust.
By sharing your story with them, you might gain encouragement and inspiration to do something new, different or simply, starting again.
4. Have an open mindset to enable you to try something different and new
Our mindset has a great impact on how we function in life. When things don’t work out the way we plan, we can become closed off. We give up on ourselves and our lives.
We become passive and refuse to try something else because we might be afraid of failing again. If you have this sort of mindset to life, you won’t be able to move on.
It’s important to be able to move on. One of my favorite quotes from the late Maya Angelou states that ‘we might encounter many defeats but we must never be defeated.”
Though life might kick us down, we have to be able to have a resilient and open mindset to look to other avenues and platforms for where to try again. To try a different strategy. To try a different approach. To look for something that might work better.
The renowned author for the widely popular Harry Potter series: J.K. Rowling often shares her struggles and failures when she speaks.
She says that she sent out her work to several publishers before it was accepted. She faced many rejections. But she still kept sending her work out and the rest is history.
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If you tell yourself that a failure has defeated you, you could be denying yourself of opportunities that are still out there. You have to be willing to keep your feet moving. There is more on the horizon.
Tell yourself that the failure could later lead to a success story.
How do you deal with failures and disappointments in life? Click here to share your story with us.