What to Do When You Think You’ve Failed, Wellness, Hope, Life Lessons, Practical Advice for Failure, Inspiration and Health

What To Do When You Think You’ve Failed

Failure is a scary word for most of us. It’s a heavy word. As psychotherapist Casey Radle, LPC, said, “failure carries a lot of weight to it: It’s…powerful and charged with negativity.”

She defined failure as “not achieving an intended goal,” which typically triggers disappointment, inadequacy and sadness. Radle’s clients have shared many “failures” with her, including losing their job, not getting into graduate school, having kids with behavioral problems (and believing they’re a bad parent), and not owning a home. Business coach Carrie Klassen’s clients typically talk about failing when they’re not making enough money or have a program or product that didn’t sell well. But failure isn’t inherently negative. In fact, it can be a good thing. Klassen and Radle shared their valuable tips for navigating your “failures.”

Avoid Judgment

When you’re upset about a failure, your inner critic may be roaring. But try to be kind to yourself anyway. “Actively engage in positive self-talk, forgive yourself, and move on,” Radle said. For instance, you might use supportive statements such as: “It’s OK; everyone makes mistakes,” or “I’m going to refocus on my needs.” Or you might gently remind yourself that all successful people have failed –many quite often. Plus, dwelling only makes you feel worse, Radle said. “Instead, concentrate on what you can do right now. You have absolutely no power or influence over the past, only how you view it and make meaning out of it.” Again, failure isn’t a bad thing. As Klassen said, “Failure is what happens to the courageous and to the creative. It's really a thing [of] honor, and makes you interesting.”