“Never a failure, Always a lesson”
Some of the most successful people in the world have failed, often. Thomas Edison took 10,000 attempts to perfect the light bulb. Arianna Huffington was rejected by 36 publishers. Walt Disney was fired for lack of creativity. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Failure sucks BUT those very failures may have caused future successes. And the same can be true for you.
Dealing with failure
Acknowledging failure and realizing that it is temporary are great first steps to dealing with failure. You should rest easy knowing that something good is happening here and you are learning, growing, and adding to your bank of experience.
Failure teaches you to fight, bounce back and be resilient
People who experience hardship develop more resiliency, determination and courage than those who don't. Failure rarely means the end of something - it's often the beginning. Resilience enables you to bounce back from a failure and keep fighting.
Resilience is the one quality all successful people have in common.
Gain wisdom, stay grounded, be positive
Research shows that the best leaders are humble and nothing fosters humility quite like failure. Intellectual humility means recognizing that we don’t know everything which allows us to acknowledge our limitations, seek answers and accept new ideas.
Sometimes a little step back leads to a giant step forward.
Try, Try again
Failure can turn into success simply because you tried again repeatedly. Determination and focus often increase after experiencing setbacks, especially when you are close to attaining your ambition. You might accomplish your goal on the second attempt or it might take several tries. Even if it feels like it's not working, trust the process. Better yet, fall in love with the process.
We’ve answered why it is important to fail, now let’s look at the how - how to turn failures into successes.
Take responsibility
Acceptance is the first step. Realize and understand what was in your hands, where can you improve and where it went wrong.
Use failure as a chiseling tool
Forget society’s definitions and expectations and change your mindset about failure. Think of it as a tool to help you determine what works and what doesn't. Viewing it as an opportunity to innovate will help you flip a failure.
Exercise Emotional Intelligence
Keep it professional, remain composed, mindful and understanding about the situation.
Practicing Routine Failing
Routine failing means doing something to get out of your comfort zone and move forward. It means taking daily risks and leaping into the unknown. Instead of overthinking to avoid failure, just do something different.
Analyze history, don’t dwell on it
Consider alternative options and take action to address them. Working to correct a mistake rather than obsessing about it can help you stay focused, proactive, and one step closer to your goals.
Take a break and then set new goals
It’s natural to need a pause after a setback, in fact, taking a break can help you gain perspective and clarity with the situation. Afterward, create an action plan, know your goals, organize yourself and get back to it. Victory’s right around the corner, Inshallah.