Tips to help you overcome failure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all fear failure – it hurts, it breaks us and leaves an indelible mark in our hearts and minds. But one thing many people don’t realise is that failure is part of life and it can either break you or make you, depending on how you respond to it. We give you tips to help you overcome failure.

Accept it: Accepting and acknowledging that you have failed is the first step towards overcoming failure. Only when you accept failure will you be in a position to deal with it level headedly. Also note that failing does not mean you are not good at something; rather, it is life’s way of telling you to do something differently.

Be constructive and learn from it: See the experience as a valuable feedback and something you can use to improve yourself rather than a big blow and a setback. Ask yourself: what can I learn from the experience? How can I adjust myself to avoid the mistake next time? What one thing can I do differently? Failure gives you an opportunity to learn until you get it right.

Realise nothing worthwhile will come easy: We are living in a generation of instant gratification and we want things to happen in a twinkle of an eye. We need to realise that achieving something notable requires some effort and time. When you are aware of this fact, you will be able to try over and over again without feeling you are doomed to fail.

Draw inspiration from people who have made it despite failure: You will be surprised to learn that the greatest people in the annals of history are those who refused their past failures to define their future. Their stories will help you look at failure as a stepping-stone to greatness. While at it, avoid negative people, as they are likely to make you feel worse about the situation.

Don’t make it personal: Don’t allow failure to define you. Just because you haven’t found a successful way of doing something doesn’t make you a failure. Personalising failure can wreak havoc to your self-esteem and confidence.

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of United States of America, failed more than once but he didn’t give up. According to history, Lincoln lost his job at 21 years, he was defeated in the run of Illinois State legislature, he lost his sweetheart while still young, he had a nervous break down at 27, was defeated in the nomination for US congress, defeated in the run for US vice president in 1856, and defeated in run for the US senate but in 1860, he was elected as the president of United States of America. He didn’t allow failure to stop his dream. Don’t let failure keep you from greatness.

Buy a copy of the October issue to read this and many more