How to Bounce Back from Failure.

What does the phrase “Bounce back” mean? I remember one of my friends reiterating the fact how he was a good bike rider, every time we came close to a “near miss” experience with other vehicles on the road. The incident happened recently and his explanation came as a response to my evident fear and subsequent request to “be on the safer side of the road”. He didn’t like hearing that, much as the Gen Y lot of entrepreneurs who take pride in having made peace with their failures. As I was still reeling off the near miss incident on the road, my biker friend explained to me his version of looking at incidents such as these: “You must compare this journey with the journey of life. We come into this world, learn the ropes, come face-to-face with hiccups and learn to bounce back to focus ‘on the road ahead’. Have the right attitude, learn from mistakes and move on.” I was dumbfounded at the analogy drawn and thanked my friend for the explanation that hit the bull’s eye, aside from giving me food for thought for my current article.

If only it was easier done than said.

Everyone is bound to face failures in different stages of life. The ones who claim to have remained unaffected by it are either lying or aren’t as successful as those who have failed (been there) and collected themselves right back up (done that). If you are averse to facing failures, chances are that you are browbeaten by the growth possibilities it offers. Let us see how overcoming failure can be a mix of resilience and the right attitude.

Solving is Necessary: Be realists and be optimists. Keep ready with a B-plan when faced with a sudden problem. Become a problem solver and don’t fret about the bygones.

Shift the Focus: Don’t focus on yourself when grey skies have engulfed you. Remember, the farther you are from negativity, the more insight, positivity and wisdom you can gain from your encounter with the failure.

What’s in the Name? Oh, you heard Mr X’s new venture failed miserably?”, “He was always a no-calibre-guy, what’s the brouhaha about?” While critics will do what they are best at – criticise, you should focus on what is best for you – start again.

Failures are Teachers: Some say one should fail on purpose while others counsel you to take a leap of faith in pursuit of your dream, to fail but successfully. So go the whole hog and ditch mediocrity.

Disappointments can be turned into meaningful successes if you yearn to find learning in your failure. You must know that there isn’t anything personal and given that in life nothing is certain, one has to keep going and keep finding opportunities in the most adverse of situations.

Determination is the Key!

Determination is another word for resoluteness. Every morning, when we start from our homes for work, we are determined to achieve something. We want to be a winner and accomplish all our goals. It is in a way a feeling of standing firmly in the face of opposition. That firmness, in turn, tells on your character and purpose, the admiration you have to reach the altar of your obstacles, however exhausting. Determination, in other words, is the absence of uncertainty and weakness. It is not allowing anyone of anything to come in your way and the goal you are out to meet.

How this staunchness and resolve in a person’s demeanour cultivates, you might end up wondering. Is it due to the experiential learning owing to our exposure to our surroundings and the general way in which everybody seems to be working today, or is it innate: a skill that you naturally have? What is that which makes you determined? Well, the answer is this:

Make it a Habit: Keep pushing yourself no matter how negative the day is turning out for you. Very often, what happens with you at the start of the day starts reflecting on the happenings of the remaining day. Experts suggest that there is a neuropathway that comes into play, and whenever you start to feel down, tell your brain to bounce back. Make it a habit. Push yourself. Do not let it affect your day, your goals, your mindset.

Live in the Present Moment: Do not look at the bigger picture from afar, it can affect your decision making. Focus on what you have to do now, and forget what is to come later. What you will do today will have a direct influence on your future. Stay centred and focus on today’s goals rather than pressurising yourself on the overwhelming tasks ahead. Always remember this brilliant quote by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most celebrated artists of all time: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Be Resilient: Make the best of your present situation. Don’t waste time thinking about your “don’t have” areas, rather be resilient and focus on your have’s. Not only that, be gratuitous for what you have and never feel sorry for yourself. The best is yet to come!

All Practice and No Luck: Practice, practice, practice! If you keep blaming your stars and leave everything down on luck, then you are far off from being determined. Keep practicing, give your 100 per cent in all the tasks, avoid getting distracted. You can simply become dedicated if you have committed yourself to a particular task or goal, and oftentimes while being in the habit, you succeed in your tasks.

Make it a habit! Be a winner!

Everyone must have their own little ways they follow to become more determined in life. What’re yours?