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Failure Doesn’t Exist, It's a Stepping Stone to Success
Have you ever held yourself back from doing something because you were afraid of failing? Many people do and have. Face it; no one enjoys failing. No one enjoys the feeling they are ineffective, weak or lacking in some way. Yet, that’s how failure can make us feel, if we let it.
You may be surprised to know, failure doesn’t exist – until YOU accept that it does. The dictionary defines failure as: 1) failing to do or perform, 2) a state of inability to perform a normal function adequately, 3) fracturing or giving way under stress, and 4) a lack of success.
Carefully read these definitions again. Do you realize they have one thing in common: failure is a PERCEPTION. It exists, but only if we allow it to exist. Not achieving a goal does not mean you failed, so long as you don't give up. It can be a stepping stone in the learning process toward future successes.
If you believe you failed, you have. Believing you don’t have the ability to succeed, you don’t. If you believe you can’t handle the stress of achieving your goals, you won’t. If you believe you’re not successful, you aren’t. Failure only exists in your own mind! The moment you decide to give up or stop working toward your goals, you have created failure.
What if you don't do that? What if you were to continue working toward your goal(s), taking one step at a time for as long as it takes? Then you have eliminated failure!
This very simple insight, change in the way your view things, is encouraging enough if you’ve been working toward goals and not yet seen positive results. Simply keep going and you cannot fail!
Tips to help you stay on course to achieve your goals:
1) Never give yourself an out.
People do this without realizing it. They are willing to work hard on achieving their goals, until the going gets too rough or their motivation dwindles. Don’t do this! Commit yourself to making your goals happen, no matter what! If you have to take a short break, do so, but never quit, never contemplate giving in to failure, and never lose your determination.
2) Don’t get hooked on a time frame.
It’s okay to set a general time line, but be aware that some circumstances are beyond your control, so you can’t say for sure when your goal will be achieved. If you do that, you’re just setting yourself up for failure! Instead, have a general idea of when you would like your goal to be completed, but then take it a day at a time focusing on making progress, not reaching the finish line by a certain time.
3) Change you mind.
If you have a self deprecating thought – negative thought, stop, don't finish the sentence, thought, instead say to yourself, even doing it out loud, 'this is just a temporary setback.' Use affirmations to reinforce positive thoughts and create a positive mindset. Replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts will put you on the path to achieving your goals and you will find it gets easier the more you do it.
4) Be sure that you don’t view obstacles or setbacks as failures.
An obstacle, setback or delay means only one thing: it may not be time for your goal to be completed yet. That’s all. It doesn’t mean you have failed; it doesn’t mean you’re weak; it doesn’t mean you are never going to achieve your goal(s). It simply means you haven't finished yet. You’ve got to keep moving forward finding a way around or through any obstacle.
Four simple steps to reaching your goals. Follow these steps everyday will help you to achieve your goals much easier and faster than ever before.
Cheers to your many successes!
Helpful Resources
Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes and Thinking Big
The Power of Failure: 27 Ways to Turn Life's Setbacks into Success
Bounce!: Failure, Resiliency, and Confidence to Achieve Your Next Great Success
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