Failure is a part of life. Wether its a job you didn't get, a client who didn't sign or a fitness goal you didn't reach by deadline. The truth is IT HAPPENS! To everyone! And when I say everyone I mean absolutely E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E!


Don't believe me? Ask the person who is, in your eyes, succeeding right now. They can tell you of their numerous stumbles down wrong roads, the holes they built ladders to climb out of, and the rejection letters they make their beds from as reminders that winning isn't an easy road.


They will also tell you that Failure is part of their success and an important part of always getting back on the winning path. So you are not alone.

1.Misery Loves Company


I know it feels bad right now but call your friends, family, favourite sister. For a chat, a coffee, a drink or a sky dive (if you are adventurously inclined). Do something with someone. Talk and Laugh even Cry if you must but don't sit and wallow in the losses of the moment. In this game of life there are winners and losers, that's just how life is. If you are losing this season best be surrounded by the ones you love. And understand it's only for a season not a lifetime.

2.Failure is Just Losing with a Lesson


Losing is ok. In modern day culture some believe in giving trophies to the losers to make them feel better. But remember losing is not supposed to feel GOOD or better, and its not meant to be rewarded. Losing and the feelings that go with it are important in your journey. Understand it. Feeling disappointment, regret or stagnant are important feelings. Why? Because it spurs reflection, learning, awareness and change. All these things are good. So embrace failure and accept it for the lesson you have won. Take the steps the lessons point you in. Learn more and don't stop learning.

3.On Your Marks... Get set...Count Your Blessings


This sounds utopian but the truth is when we fail at anything THAT is the exact moment that we must remember what we have going for us. Just because there is one failure it does not mean the other blessings you have disappear. You may grow weary of your failures but you will never get tired of seeing the blessings that surround you. Even if it is being grateful for your eyes to read your rejection, or fingers to type your reply (start small, start with whats infront of you, just start). Do it... be grateful for the small and sometimes taken for granted things you feel blessed to have. Like a warm bed, clean clothes, a yummy lunch, a good friend, a loving mom, an appreciative child... Literally the list is endless. If you are finding it hard to count your blessings look around you, look inside you, look beside you. Write them all down on a piece of paper or journal. Trust me, by the end of it you will feel like you have won despite the momentary feeling of loss.

4.Dance


Dance is a magic tool. It gets your body connected, synapses firing and the mind in tune with good vibrations. Find a song you love and play it. Move your body and feel the rhythm. The benefit of dancing away your sadness will leave you with an endorphin fix that will clear your mind of worry and sadness. Who says you have to be in a happy place to dance, sadness is ok but dancing is even better. Try it.

5.Remember Success sometimes means Future-Failure


Even when you succeed, remember failure comes and goes throughout life, infinitely so. How you pick yourself up defines the journey. The CEO celebrated when he got his position but he can tell you of his failures that followed before he won another battle. The runner who wins will stumble and it will remind her how to win before she can win Gold. One thing is certain in this journey of life: Failure happens! But isn't it lovely you now have experience dealing with it? Use this experience to conquer the moments when you find yourself down. Be grateful for your failures, they teach you resilience.
Its best to know how to bend the disappointment in you to your favour so that you don't break when you fall to the floor. Those who never fail... do not exist. Like I said EVERYONE goes through it.

6.Keep Going


That is a sure-fire way of knowing this stumble in the road does not define you. Your book got rejected? Keep submitting proposals or get feedback as to the reason for rejection and make it better. Keep writing! You failed a subject or year at school? Study harder Study longer! Change your place of study or change HOW you study or WHO you study with! You didn't get the job? Keep applying to that which is best suited to your strongest skills. Giving up isn't an option.
When you fall off a bike, you scrape your knee, do you stop riding forever? No! You get savlon, a plaster and some rest (hopefully with your favourite tv series on the telly) and then you get back on that bike and ride to your next destination.


The brightest rainbows come after the darkest thickest clouds gather and the loudest thunder.
Don't forget this moment.
It's the moment you learnt to dance in the rain, because your techni-colour rainbow will come if you remember the rain is part of the journey.

Shika xx