Failures, Backslides, and Restarts
Overcoming those (inevitable) setbacks along your transformation journey.
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Olympic multi-champion swimmer Michael Phelps. When you decide you want to make a change in your life, it’s human nature to treat it like a race and try to accomplish it as smoothly and quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, change often looks more like a pothole-filled winding road rather than a smooth and straight highway. You’ll get lost, hit a bump in the road, take a wrong turn, have to backtrack, and (gasp!) maybe even restart. And that’s okay!
We’re wrapping up our Summer of Change series by addressing something discouraging yet inescapable… DEFEAT! Here are a few ways to power past obstacles, navigate failure with grace, and bounce back stronger on the other side.
Be your own best friend.
You might be guilty of being overly critical and unforgiving when judging yourself. However, you would never judge or speak to someone you care about with the same harshness, right?
Change is hard. Everyone experiences challenges so cut yourself some slack. Forgive your mistakes and make sure your internal dialogue is loaded with self-compassion.
Remain positive.
If you’re struggling to reach a large goal, break it down into smaller ones. Accomplishing these micro-successes will keep you motivated and make the overarching goal seem less intimidating and more achievable.
View every step forward as a victory, and remind yourself (often) of the progress you’ve already made.
Stay flexible.
Changes you want to make should have a timeline. However, life throws curveballs so try to avoid setting hard deadlines to thwart disappointment and discouragement.
Don’t get derailed by overwhelm. Give yourself buffers and take breaks as needed. And if one approach doesn’t work, step back, regroup, and try a fresh strategy.
Find the lesson.
It’s frustrating to fail but there’s always something to learn—even from a loss. Allow yourself the space to feel the disappointment but don’t dwell and get stuck there instead of persevering.
Before you turn the page, take a moment to understand what went wrong. Mistakes make great teachers, providing valuable insights that can help you prevent similar setbacks in the future.
Get support from others.
Whatever you’re trying to change, someone else has successfully achieved it before. That means they’ve likely also suffered the same challenges.
A trusted mentor can keep you accountable, put things into perspective, and help you see around corners. It doesn’t make you stronger or better to achieve your goal alone without the help of others; it just makes your journey more difficult.
Our Summer of Change series is over but that doesn’t mean your transformation has to be complete. Don’t feel discouraged if you’ve stalled, or even if you want to abandon your plan and reset entirely.
Team up with Megan who’ll turn your frustration into action so you can start fresh for fall! Book your free chat with Megan and prepare to be amazed at how much progress you’ve made as the autumn leaves change color.
“The magnitude of what Megan does for you and your business is difficult to fully convey, what makes Megan truly special is that often she believes in you more than you might believe in yourself, and then helps you achieve that level. She can tell you the truth and tell you what you need to hear, but in a way that is energizing and inspiring. I have learned so much from Megan and know our business would not have been the same without her guidance." — Aakash Goel, Owner, Enginehire
