It might be no big deal if you fail at something you hate. However, failing at something you love or you're passionate about is another story. Even the mere idea of failure is frightening. Plus it evokes feelings of disappointment and shame. An important thing to remember is that you are not a failure.
Although you fail, you can be proud that you tried.
Many people look upon opportunities and challenges and allow the fear of failure to stop them. When you have to stare failure in the face, remember it is to your credit that you tried. Although you failed to generate or achieve the anticipated outcome, you should be proud of yourself for trying. You threw your hat in the ring, you jumped in, you gave it a go, you stood up to a challenge, you embraced an opportunity, you braved the stab of fear. Shouldn't you be proud?
You can try again
In 1840, Thomas H Palmer (1782-1861) wrote in his Teacher's manual, "'Tis a lesson you should heed, try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." To this day, his words still resound with the same level of encouragement when you are disheartened by failure. Sometimes things don't work out the first time. Are you game to try again?
Do things differently
Sometimes, a different strategy or system is all it takes to achieve a particular outcome and this is the idea behind Henry Ford's famous words, "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." Before you sink under the burden of disappointment, brainstorm a better, different or more intelligent way to achieve the same results-more on-target information, better tools and equipment, greater flexibility, do-or-die persistence, sharper focus, a more assertive stance. What would you do differently to garner the desired success?
Try something new
If trying the same thing again is not a viable option for you, don't waste time sitting around. Try something new. It may not be high-level, it may not garner as much attention, fame or support. It may hold its own understated significance. Are you willing to try something new?
Salvage valuable lessons
There, you've heard it for the umpteenth time. Yet it is a truth you can't refute. Out of negative experiences and circumstances you can always find a lesson. Failure is no different. Along with every other positive spin you can put to a failure, you still have this one. Often, the lesson is not obvious. You may have to flip countless layers to find it. With persistence, you will discover one or more lessons to inform, encourage and enable you for the present as well as the future. What lessons have you learnt from your failure?
Maximise the experience
People sometimes say, "You'll never know unless you try." Well, you tried and now you know. Moreover, you may understand the facts of the issue, the problem, the venture and the story behind your failure so well, that you sit in the position of an expert, of sorts. With your first-hand knowledge, you can field questions from someone who might be contemplating the same path or encourage and comfort another who is lamenting a similar failure in her own life. Are you up to the challenge? It's true, failure can be paralysing but as a natural occurrence on the way to success, you accept it, take a breath, square your shoulders, pocket the lessons, pick up the pieces of your disappointment and decide your next step. After all, you failed but you're not a failure.
