How to bounce back from failure
How to bounce back from failure
You can bounce back from failure. Everyone experiences set backs in life. Thomas Edison failed 1000’s of times trying to invent the light bulb. However, he would bounce back after each failure to try again. He is quoted as saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” The automobile was an invention that would change the world forever, however when Henry Ford built his first automobile, it didn’t have a reverse gear. You can’t always drive forward and so at first it looked like a failure. But Henry Ford didn’t give up he bounced back; he added a reverse gear, and the rest is history. Like Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, you too can bounce back if you don’t give up and quit.
The Secret to Bouncing Back from Failure
There is one overriding secret to bouncing back from setbacks, disappointments, and failures in life – it is ATTITUDE. Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had a positive attitude in the middle of a negative situation. Mistakes and failures are not what determines the outcome of your life it’s how you respond to the set backs in life. Every time you fall down, make a mistake, or experience a set back you have to make a decision. Will you let those failures discourage you and knock you off course from God’s purpose for your life or will you look at them as opportunities to grow and move forward toward the goal?
You can’t control everything that happens in life, but you can control your attitude. Choose the right attitude and it has the power to dwarf your circumstances. Your attitude will determine your altitude. The question is, what attitude are you going to choose – positive or negative; can do or can’t; winning or losing; possible or impossible; faith or doubt?
We all fail, from time to time, but how do we react when failure comes? Are we going to become discouraged and give up, or do we pick ourselves up and try again? Paul gives us this insight, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) It’s all about Attitude – Paul kept a positive attitude in the midst of every setback. In 2Corinthians 4:1, he said, “We do not lose heart.” I like the way the New Living puts it: “We never give up.”
3 Ingredients for the Right Attitude
In order to bounce back from failure you must be prepared – by having the right attitude. There are three main components to developing and keeping the right attitude:
1) Attitude starts with your thinking. “For as [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV). If you focus on good, wholesome, and positive thoughts all day long you will have an attitude that is positive, encouraging and uplifting. If your thoughts are focused on whats critical and negative your attitude will be negative. Get your thinking right to get the right attitude.
2) Attitude is established by what you say. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) The words you speak determine the course of your life. (James 3:4) Proverbs 13:3 says, “Those who are careful about what they say protect their lives, but whoever speaks without thinking will be ruined.” We need to guard what we say. Our words should be positive, encouraging, uplifting and filled life, grace, and salt. Establish a the right attitude by speaking the right words.
3) Attitude is maintained by gratitude. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1Thessolonians 5:18 ESV) Notice it doesn’t say to give thanks FOR all things, but IN all things give thanks. We need to maintain an attitude of gratitude even in the middle of the storms of life. We all have things to be grateful for even when problems occur. Make a mental list of all the good things God has done in your life. The right attitude is maintained when we are grateful.
Realize failure is not your destiny. Your attitude will predict your future and you determine your attitude. It is your choice. Your attitude is determined by what you choose to think and say and is maintained by choosing to be thankful. So what are you choosing? Negative and critical attitudes that make life painful, barren, dry, hard and joyless or a positive and grateful attitude that brings a life that is full, abundant, with peace and joy even in the midst of the storm.
Get ready to bounce back from the failures and setbacks of life!
