Failure is one of the toughest things to deal with. Whether it is failing an assignment, failing a test or failing an interview, there is no denying that failure can make us feel inadequate and ineffective.
The purpose of "failure" is not to discourage and break us, but rather to provide us with opportunities to rebuild and improve ourselves.
Let's take a look at four steps that can help you turn any negative experience into an opportunity for growth:
1.Accept that failure is part of the process
Failure is just a setback; it is not your final destination. It is a stepping-stone in your journey that is getting you to where you need to be.
2. Let your frustration out
Once you have taken some time to walk it off and clear your head, you can then begin accepting what happened. The initial emotional rush will eventually dissipate and you can then slowly return your focus back to the issue at hand.
The most important part of the process of overcoming failure is to be honest with yourself. Confront yourself about the mistakes that you have made and how you can move forward, taking everything you have learnt from this setback into account.
4. Fail forward
Failing forward is essentially learning from the setbacks that we have experienced and applying what we have learnt in order to attain a different outcome.
The key is to see "failure" as a learning experience and not as a character trait. You may fail when you try something, but that does not mean that you are a failure. You have only failed when you refuse to learn from the experience.
Article by Pearl Ngoasheng, BMT College.
References:
G, Young , September 4, 2014 , 4 Steps To Overcoming Failure And Using It To Your Advantage [Online]. Available from:
[Accessed: 28 April 2015]