Whether you like it or not: setbacks are part of life. And that’s a good thing! Because without defeats you would hardly develop yourself further. If everything worked on its own the first time, there would be no learning effect and no growth.
Especially if you try new things and courageously throw yourself into the adventure, you will inevitably make the odd mistake, learn from it, develop further, and eventually get it right.
So the question is not “How do I avoid setbacks?” but “How do I deal with setbacks properly?”
I’ve been hit on the head more times than I’d like during the course of my development. So I know how hard these moments can feel and how depressing and hopeless a situation can be.
In this article, I would like to tell you my tactics and a few tips on how to deal with setbacks better.
The setback tactic: how to better cope with defeats
If you are in a situation that totally overwhelms you and you no longer know where the front and back are, you should do the following:
- Accept your defeat
- As long as you try to close your eyes, you cannot see the solution. And it doesn’t make it any better.
- Take a few steps away.
- Try to clear your head again. If your consciousness is completely clouded by strong negative emotions and confused thoughts, then you cannot make intelligent decisions to improve the situation.
If you allow short-circuiting in a state of emotional flooding, you’re making the situation worse rather than improving it. The ultimate goal, then, is to get it, for now, a clear head to after a covered initiate course change.
Meditation is great for this, but you can also just go out into the fresh air and go for a walk. Try to let go of all thoughts and relax.
So once you’ve relaxed and calmed down, the best thing to do is:
Dealing with setbacks: in 6 easy steps
1. Be aware of what you are thankful for
Nothing can get you out of a negative state as quickly as conscious gratitude (which is why it is an integral part of my morning routine).
Think about what you are thankful for in your life and right now, right now. Focus on all the things that are going well.
For example, make yourself aware that you are healthy, that you have a home and enough to eat, that your family and friends are there for you, or just that the sun is shining.
You don’t have to be grateful for something insanely great and great – you can find true happiness in the small, everyday things!
2. Change your perspective
Put things in perspective. If you take a closer look at the situation, it may not be as bad as you keep telling yourself.
Ask yourself:
What is the problem right now, right now?
You will find that in most cases you have no current problem at all.
It is only your negative thoughts about what happened or your fears and worries about the future that make you sick.
3. Find the positive about the crisis
Examine the situation and find the positive in it.
That sounds paradoxical, but you will find that if you only search hard enough, you will find something positive in the situation!
Think of my example. I found out that traveling is not my thing. With that, I took another huge step forward in my self-discovery process.
And I’ve already told you about my other 3 great findings …
4. Start the pampering program
Despite all positive thinking: a setback is and remains a setback.
So don’t stress yourself in this situation.
Spoil yourself Enjoy yourself, relax, and take time for yourself . Take a walk. Take care of your body. Consciously listen to beautiful music and lie down. Or go to your favorite cafe and treat yourself to something delicious while you make your new plans for the future.
5. Don’t waste the learning effect
Learn from the event. Consciously ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I want to do differently next time?
- What new insights have I gained?
- What do I want to avoid from now on?
It’s best to write down your findings. Before you start planning a bigger thing next time, take a look at your notes. You may even be able to avoid the next defeat …
6. Look ahead
The most important thing: look ahead!
What happened,. You can’t change it anymore. Evaluate it, learn from it and then:
If possible, it is best to leave the environment that constantly reminds you of your setback. It will be much easier for you to look positively into the future and move forward with new energy when you are no longer burdened with what has been.
Since my disaster around the world, I’ve used these 6 steps to cope with my setbacks faster, learn as much as possible, and develop myself further.
I am sure that they will also help you with your setbacks in life.
So that future defeats don’t hit you so hard, I have a special tip for you: The emergency plan for setbacks:
The emergency plan: This is how you prepare yourself optimally for future setbacks
As long as you live, you will always have to suffer setbacks and defeats.
Many people are afraid of it and therefore try to take no more risks. They stay in their comfort zone or lower their expectations extremely before each project, just so as not to be disappointed.
But I tell you one thing: this is how you live your life with the handbrake on and you will never reach your goals!
It is much better to prepare yourself optimally for future setbacks. How you do that?
The trick is to act as quickly as possible in the event of a setback. The longer you hang your head idly, the more negative energy accumulates, and the harder it is to get out of this state.
So it is important to be aware if you suffer a setback and then pull out your emergency card and put it into practice.
It is best to train the process as often as possible, even with small daily spans …
