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When it comes to our own personal journeys towards success, failure is inevitable.
Success and failure are inherently connected events. Every person that has found their version of success has suffered from a string of setbacks and failures along the way, which is what makes success all the more rewarding.
In spite of this truth, grappling with failure is never easy. No matter how old or experienced you are, dealing with the mental struggle of failure is difficult, and finding motivation after failure seems nearly impossible.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to motivate yourself following a setback or failure. Use these 7 tips to help you get back on track and motivated after facing a setback.
How to Motivate Yourself After a Failure or Setback
1. Think about what matters most to you. It’s easy to lose sight of what’s most important in the midst of failure. Instead of letting your worries get the best of you and trying to figure out where you went wrong, or what you could have done differently, etc., try focusing more on the things that matter most to you. Is it your family who is always there for you? Your spouse? Your children? Your friends? Practice gratitude towards the good things in your life. By focusing more on what you already have and what matters most to you, you’ll focus less on your perceived losses.
2. Let your commitments fuel you, not your emotions. Taking action and keeping busy is what fuels our motivation. Think about it. Have you ever decided to jog another lap when you were just about to finish up? Or have you felt compelled to write more once you got the first few sentences down? Somehow, activity seems to induce motivation. So let your commitments and your schedule take the wheel; you’ll find motivation arises a lot faster.
3. Break a sweat regularly. Working out gets those mood boosting endorphins flowing while reducing any stress you may feel. Whether you like to do yoga, hike, jog, walk or spin, allow yourself to focus on the simple activity of exercise. The endorphins combined with less stress will open your eyes to possibility and opportunity.
4. Reflect on what you’ve achieved. Your self-talk can either stand in the way of what you wish to accomplish, or propel you forward to achieve all your goals. One way to effectively motivate yourself is to reflect on what you’ve achieved in the past. By reminding yourself of your successes and what you do well, you can use this positive self-talk to your own advantage.
5. Take a mental respite. Often when we fail we become enmeshed in all the things we did wrong. We relive our mistakes, beat ourselves up, and become stuck in the past rather than trying to move foreword. When you fail or make a mistake and catch yourself falling into this pattern, stop. Take a break, and if possible get away from your usual environment. Go away on a weekend trip. See a friend. Plan an afternoon outing. Physically separating yourself from the problem will help you to clear your mind and regain perspective.
6. Ask yourself the tough questions. Once you’ve taken a mental respite and have gained a healthier perspective on the situation, revisit your mistakes. Ask yourself the tough questions and be brutally honest when you answer them. For example, what can you do differently the next time when you try again? What have you learned from this experience? What mental roadblocks did you encounter that may have held you back? Reflective questions like these aren’t always easy to answer, but they’ll help motivate you to get the result you want.
Read this to learn how you can set meaningful goals.
7. Start planning. Now is the time to shift your focus and start planning your next endeavor. Don’t dwell on your mistakes or failures any longer, and look ahead to what you wish to accomplish. What actionable steps can you take right now? Break down your goals into pieces, and start taking action.
