When you’ve had a setback it’s very easy to start thinking that you will always keep failing in this area of your life. It’s easy to start thinking that YOU are indeed a failure.

Don’t fall for such a destructive and sometimes seductive self-fulfilling prophecy.

Instead, remind yourself that:

• Just because you failed today or yesterday doesn’t mean that you’ll fail the next time.
• The truth is that this won’t last for the rest of your life if you keep moving forward, if you take action and you keep learning and it doesn’t label you as some kind of failure (except if you decide to create that label in your own head).

Seeing what’s negative as a temporary thing instead of something permanent is an essential key to an optimistic attitude and to keep going forward in life.

How to Make Failure your New Best Friend? 

Here are a couple of questions to help you change the way you look at failure:

• What’s one thing I can learn from this?
• How can I adjust my course to avoid this trap/making the same mistake and likely do better next time?
• What’s one thing I can differently the next time?

Take some time with these questions and be honest with yourself as you answer them.

There’s no rush and while some of the answers may be immediate others might take an hour, day or even a week to pop up.

Forgive Yourself and Keep Going.

We know this is easier said than done. But once you have failed at something, you have to figure out your next action. Being proactive is a great trait to have, and it is much better than wallowing in sorrow and doing nothing to change your situation. By making decisions about your actions post-failure, you can start heading towards success instead of getting stuck in failure.

“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, don’t sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie

We created our Keep Going Bracelet to remind you to keep going after a difficult time. You can use it for yourself or give it to a friend. They will feel your support upon receiving it and will think of you and the kindness you showed them when they look at it later. You never know what small act of kindness could change someone's perspective and life.