Learn from both mistakes and failures – they become life experiences that will help you grow. Forgive yourself and move forward. “Failures are finger posts (pointers) on the road to achievement. “ -CS Lewis.
- When I interview people for a job opening, I always ask them to give me an example of a failure in life, how they handled it and how they grew from it – if their answer is “I don’t have any failures” then I don’t hire them. I want to hire people who have been through tough times, and challenges, and have grown and learned from them. Expect failures in life. Be honest about them – wear them like a badge of honor – they happen to everyone and people usually know when we make excuses or try to hide them. Others will respect you for being vulnerable and sharing your mistakes or failures. It will encourage them to be vulnerable too – and this can lead to rewarding conversations and breakthroughs in growth and learning from each other. We make each other better when we are transparent and learn from each others’ failures. Besides, who likes fake people who act like they always have it together?
- “The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just” -Abraham Lincoln
- Don’t allow your failures to make you bitter or angry. Instead keep your eyes fixed on your faith and values, and how you can grow and learn from your mistakes. Think positively. Don’t dwell on the inevitable failures (s—t happens) – it’s easy to be a pessimist. Anyone can complain ‘It’s easier to smell a rotten egg than to lay a good one’. Positivity takes creativity and brains – it opens up conversations and opportunities. Eliminate the word ‘but’ in your life and replace it with the word ‘and’. Research shows that optimists (positive people) thrive in all areas of life (relationships, career, fulfillment, etc) significantly more than people who are not positive. Life is too short – learn from your mistakes, but don’t dwell on them – be positive, grateful and focus on your blessings and talents.