Dealing with Failure 

Failure is inevitable, and at times this thought can be freeing. It can be painful in the moment, but is an absolutely normal part of living. The challenge is not to avoid failure forever, but to learn to lean into it and treat it as a natural part of learning, adapting and growing. This can help to shake off the feelings of fear, anxiety and stress surrounding failure.  

I just failed, now what?  

1. Accept  
When you feel up for it, write, or simply give yourself a moment to come to terms with the fact that you can’t change the past. This can open you up to moving on, learning and making positive changes instead of being stuck in a self-depreciating loop.  

2. Reflect  
Observe what went wrong and why. Be honest with yourself and identify mistakes or areas that need improvement, while recognizing that sometimes, things are out of our control.  

3. Tell a Friend 
Sharing your experience can be healing. It may help put things in perspective and make you feel more at ease.  

4. Persist and Make Changes  
After you’ve had time to accept this feeling and learn from your mistakes you now have a fantastic opportunity. It’s time to re-group, take the lessons you’ve learnt and make a new plan of action.  

Useful Resources 

Here is a great podcast about the three types of failure and how to learn from them