“Failure is the gateway to success.” is a saying we all preach, with only a few taught its inevitable escape. With failure being proclaimed as a sullen event by society, it becomes necessary to rise above it.
In this blog, we will discuss two ways in which failure can be overcome and coped with, based on the experiences of same-aged students.
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Choice of Language:
Often, we find ourselves swept within the waves of uncertainty and start using statements that begin with “I am,” like “I am a failure.” or “I am a waste of space.”. This leads to a global onslaught of our self-worth and self-esteem and triggers a sense of shame, which halts us from learning and moving on.
Therefore, we need to be vigilant about our choice of language. We need to get our sinking ship on the ground instead of expecting it to swim. Separating failure from individual selves is the first step towards moving on and completing the voyage.
Remember that one failure does not define a person, but rather the core values. By jotting down a list of prominent or trivial achievements, we can self-glorify and stop the outflow of negative emotions.
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Wrong techniques:
Many a time we grind our hardest, giving our unrivalled effort, yet failure nudges us into the wayside. Here, the old saying “Hard work is the key” may fail to unlatch the door of reasons that hold the smoking gun, instead, it lays as a dusty pin.
In this case, there is a strong possibility that the techniques followed before did not fill the bill. But the question arises, how do we ferret out which tactics were ill-advised?
To identify which techniques may have contributed to our failure, we need to review and analyze our past mistakes. Reviewing involves going back to the situation where things went wrong and reflecting on what could have been done differently. Analyzing behooves us to focus on the specific decision or action that led to misstep and examine the methods used earlier.
Remember, failure is not cynical ecstasy. It is not always the “key” or the “bridge” to success and can often ripen into a habit. However, with the right mindset, it can be vanquished and be taken as a lesson for the future self.