Failure. Its something every individual experiences. Whether it be a math test you flunked, missing the bus in the morning, or failing to achieve your life long goals. Failure can come in small or big packages. Honestly speaking, you and I might face small failures every week. This week, I broke the zipper on a skirt I have been working on in Fashion Studies class for the past month. I also slept in ’till 12 PM on Wednesday- on a school day. I was on the verge of crying. How do these things happen? I figured that was the exact answer I needed to find. The answers to overcoming failure.
1. Acknowledge that you’ve failed:
People often hide the failures they’ve experienced, regarding them as weaknesses or embarrassments. Sometimes, what we don’t realize enough is that failure is a common reality every person has dealt with. It’s how we learn, develop, and mentally grow as individuals. The first step to putting failure at your advantage is acknowledging that you have failed- admitting that something went wrong during your efforts. If you don’t acknowledge the existence of a problem, how will you work towards a solution?
2. Take the time to process your feelings
Don’t suppress and bottle up your feelings. Sometimes it takes a good cry and some time alone to sort out our emotions. Give yourself some time alone and approach the situation with calmness, no matter how bad it may seem. A quick biology fact: Being worried and scared is what our sympathetic nervous system controls. It’s completely normal, and temporary. It’s tempting to, but avoid dwelling on your mistakes or failure for long, which, by doing so, can lead to depression or other health problems. I suggest to try meditating, doing yoga, taking warm baths, or journalling to reduce obsessive thinking. Understand that failure is a part of the learning process, and move forward when you are 100% ready.
3. Reflect and Try a Different Approach
We tend to blame ourselves a lot for our mistakes. When I did my elementary homework [with the help of my mother], I use to sit behind the couch and cry whenever I made an error. I felt foolish and incompetent. Although I let my frustration out by sobbing, I didn’t reflect on my mistakes and consquently, I repeated the same mistakes over and over, expecting to find different results. Use a different strategy, a different approach. If plan A to reach your goal didn’t work, don’t stress- the alphabet has 25 more letters 😉 Perhaps you failed the test because you didn’t study hard enough, or maybe you studied too much and didn’t sleep well the night before. Perhaps you need new studying strategies- flash cards, taking notes, watching videos, etc. to help you prepare better. Find new ways to achieve your goals.
Like Thomas A. Edison said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Being humble by acknowledging your failure, letting out your frustration in a healthy manner, reflecting, and using a different approach are all part of the process of overcoming failure and moving towards greater achievements. You are capable of achieving so many brilliant things. When life pushes you down, dust your jeans, stand up, and continue towards your goal. Also, never hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Your parents, family, and teachers may offer you input and advice to make your road to success that much easier. Chin up, and good luck! Never, ever give up.
“No human ever became interesting by not failing. The more you fail and recover and improve, the better you are as a person. Ever meet someone who’s always had everything work out for them with zero struggle? They usually have the depth of a puddle. Or they don’t exist.” – Chris Hardwick
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