How To Transition From Setback to Success

Chaos comes in many forms, and it always seems to strike at the worst time. You’re well on your way to achieving your goal when suddenly an unforeseen circumstance takes up all the extra money you’ve been saving, or you find out you didn’t get the dream job you were counting on.

Setbacks can take away your motivation and drive if you let them – but having the right mindset and staying determined with help you effectively move past setbacks.

Adopt a Growth Mindset

This is the perfect opportunity for you to begin thinking differently and start acting proactively as well as responsively. Life usually doesn’t unfold the way you think it will, so be prepared to change the path you take to achieve your goal.

Check out Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, to learn more about a fixed vs. growth mindset.

Be Resilient

Setbacks are inevitable so it’s important that you get comfortable being uncomfortable when things don’t go your way. The faster you can learn from a setback, the faster you will be able to move on. Be careful with the meaning that you associate with something that doesn’t go the way you had hoped. You might think that it’s a sign that you should give up, but someone else might think it’s a sign to work harder.

Don’t compare

Many overnight success stories actually took 10+ years. Just because you don’t see someone else’s entire journey, it doesn’t mean that they didn’t have many struggles. People often compare their weaknesses to someone else’s strengths and wonder why they can’t win. Focus on your journey and stop comparing yourself to someone else. 

Focus on what’s working 

Stop to recognize what is working and write down everything that you’ve accomplished so far (sometimes we forget all of the things that are going well). Then discuss what isn’t working and begin to explore solutions one by one.

Keep Moving Forward

The worst thing you can do is nothing. Don’t stress out if you fail a few times (or twenty or thirty times) before you get it right. Persistence is the key to success and there is always more than one way to succeed. Massive action solves most problems so get out of your head and into your heart so that you will keep working towards the end goal.

Helen Marie Fox is a health and performance coach who has helped hundreds of individuals and groups perform at their best. Her strategic approach to goal achievement leaves people armed with the knowledge, skills and essential mindset required to create change. Read more.