The one thing that makes life so interesting and joyful is failure. Honestly this life thing was not going to be fun if in all that we do goes smoothly all the time. As challenging as it is, humankind must learn how to deal with failure. Failure is not as bad as we perceive it to be, i personally think that the more we fear failure or hate it ,it is the more we allow it to defeat us. One way or the other we need failure at some point for us to succeed. We were not going to know the joy of succeeding if we never have experienced failure in our lives.
There are many failures in Business. I remember when i was preparing my last Business event for the year under our Women Empowerment Project, i have encountered so many failures, there was even a point where i was thinking of cancelling the whole event. Today if you ask me about the outcome of the event i will tell you how beautiful the event was. I carry so much pride, but mostly not because the event was beautiful but because i was not defeated by the failures i had encountered. It is always fulfilling to finish what you have started. Most of the time we don’t really realise that our past successes, big or small aid as a motivation for our future.
The following techniques helps me in dealing with failure and overcoming it.
1. Acknowledge Failure
In most cases, and in life in general when we shy away from our circumstances or background we are more unlikely to change the status quo. When failure hits you, acknowledge it and find the way forward. And by so saying we should acknowledge failure i am not saying we should accept things as they are and leave them but i am merely saying that let’s recognise it and let’s find other possible ways to deal with them.
2. Don’t dwell so much on Failure
For sure failure does force one to pause or stop but do not pause forever. Use the time to pause to think of the next move. Once you stop for long, i truly believe it is the more you are allowing the attack. When failure attack you, you need to fight back, think of the new plan or strategy, change positions if you have to but just don’t give up.
3. Think of when you succeeded
I often make use of my past successes as my source of encouragement and motivation. Always refer back to what you have done before and succeeded in it and just gain the confidence that you started whatever what it was and you came out the winner, it really helps. Your past successes helps with your mental and emotional strength.
4. You are not the only one
When you are faced with a challenge you are more likely to feel that you are the only one facing it but you are actually not. You are not the first and you will never be the last. Those who came before you they face the same challenge and they have passed through it because they had chosen not to quit, and therefore you need not to lie to yourself and think you are the first. You just don’t quit, do not give failure the satisfaction that you are the looser.
And i also find what works for me more is that i have more positive thoughts than negatives. I will always try to find the positive in everything and that gives me the strength and courage.
Compiled by Miss Dee, On behalf of Matsobanemetja Business Consulting (Pty) Ltd – Coaching division.
For any queries www.matsobanemetja.co.za
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Matsobanemetja Business Consulting Pty Ltd 