How to learn from failure
We learn the most when we fail.
With full confidence I can sincerely say the worst critic in life is yourself. When one truly thinks he has failed, no one can do anything to prove otherwise. We must pick up the pieces and build a stronger self, one that will not repeat the mistakes of the past but move forward with lessons learnt.
Even though many people may be fortunate enough to say that their failures are on par with others successes. What others think, say, or do just doesn’t matter if you yourself are not happy with your performance. How you deal with failure defines your character, shapes your resilience, and can propel you to new heights.
At the end of the day when you have tried your best and still come up short, there is not much one can do.
People say: “Well at least you tried your best.”
That’s the point…
Your best failed.
Failing because you did not try; failing because you did not practice; failing because you just did not care…
That’s fine.
But when your best is failing; it is a disaster.
When you put your best foot forward and externalities that are out of your control take you down. That is true failure. The type of failure you never had a chance to stand up to. When your best fails, one tends to lose self-respect. If you lose that, why should anyone respect you? Again it comes down to how you perceive yourself, as you are your worse enemy.
Self-praise is useless
Self-hatred is everything
So how does one learn from failing?
I use to think that the answer was simple: never fail, keep winning. That’s flawed thinking that will smash you in the face when you do fail.
So practice makes perfect ?
Keep on failing?
No obviously.
Take notes on why you failed. Accept that externalities are out of your control, staying positive, and harnessing the art of resilience will assist you. Above all, time, if used properly can be the best healer. However in a fast paced life, who has time?
Knowing you let the opportunity to launch yourself to whole new level slip is a sharp slap to the face. Especially when you knew your true best could have accomplished that great leap and much much more, winning so many times, one could just forget how to deal with failure, and the worst kind, the one where you think you have failed.
“Failure is nature’s plan to prepare you for great responsibilities.”
Mind the Mind