The biggest key to overcoming failure is that learning from failure is beneficial. We can learn immensely from our failures – especially if we learn not to make the same mistakes again.
While it is important to face our weaknesses and accept personal responsibility for our actions, we can’t really correct our problems if we aren’t willing to face them.
The first thing you need to realize is that learning from failure makes you a stronger person.
You actually need failure in your life. When you encounter failure and continue to press forward, you strengthen your ability to persevere.
Honestly, if you never experience any setbacks in your life, it can mean one of two things – either you’re living life totally in your comfort zone and not achieving much, or you’re setting your sights so low that succeeding is easy. Neither of those scenarios are beneficial in helping you to achieve goals and dreams.
Another key aspect of learning from failure is realizing that failure is a stepping stone to success.
Every person you might label as successful has failed at some point in their lives while trying to achieve a goal. Most them have failed more times than you can imagine.
It’s been said that, “Failure is just the price of admission, and everyone has to pay the price.” So, the application here is to not give up. Have you failed to implement your program? Are you working at your program half-heartedly? Are you working hard and still aren’t where you want to be yet. Keep at it. The alternative is that you run the risk of walking away totally defeated with an even more negative view of yourself. You will end up creating a negative belief system about who you are that will cause you to totally stay stuck in your ability to lose weight, feel healthy, get off medications, play with your kids and grandkids – and even more devastating – lose the ability to simply accept that you are worth the struggle. You can get back up again and keep going.
Another key concept in redefining your failures is understanding that learning from failure is the best teacher. I’ve learned a lot more from my failures than I ever have from my successes. When you fail, you learn what doesn’t work, which is just as important as knowing what does work. It teaches you that the next time you try, you will have the knowledge of what to avoid or what to start doing to move you closer to success.
A very important thing to understand in learning from your failure is realizing that failing doesn’t mean you are a failure.
Failure is a result rather than a way to define yourself. It should not become a part of your identity. Just because you have failed at something doesn’t mean you’re a failure as a person. Don’t let it define who you are.
You have to separate your self-worth or your value from your failures. A great way to look at it is that failing means you’re actually a step above the average person who only dreams of losing weight, but never takes action because they are too afraid to fail or don’t want to change.
Lastly, benefiting from your failures is realizing that what others think of your failure is irrelevant. This is HUGE! Unless someone is giving you constructive criticism that is going to help you grow, ignore it. Some people give you “advice” with the result of causing you harm, whether it’s intentional or unintentional. Pick and choose who you listen to very carefully.
The overall take away is that we just need to change our thinking and our definition of failure when it comes to many things in life – but especially with weight loss. If you didn’t reach your weight loss goal this month, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t set yourself up for failure by assuming the worst going forward. It’s just unfinished success. You can benefit from what you’ve learned and get back in the fight.