THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILURE – Part II

This week we continue to look at key principles to help us redefine our failures with regard to weight loss.

Realizing that failure is a steppingstone to success is another key in the Importance of Failure. Every person you might label as successful has failed at some point in their lives while trying to achieve a goal.

It’s been said, “Failure is just the price of admission, and everyone has to pay the price.” So, the application here is not to give up. Keep at it! Otherwise, you run the risk of walking away totally defeated with an even more negative view of yourself. You will end up creating a negative belief system about who you are that will cause you to remain stuck in your ability to lose weight, feel healthy, get off medications, play with your kids and grandkids. Even more devastating is that you lose the ability to simply accept that you are worth the struggle. You can get back up again and keep going!

Redefining your failures as a weight loss principle involves understanding that failure is the best teacher. I’ve learned a whole lot more from my failures than I ever have from my successes. When you fail, you learn what doesn’t work, which is just as important as knowing what does work. It teaches you that the next time you try, you will have the knowledge of what to avoid or what to start doing to move you closer to success.

Failing doesn’t mean you are a failure represents another important thing to understand. Failure is a result, not a way to describe yourself. It should not become a part of your identity. Just because you have failed at something doesn’t mean you’re a failure as a person. Don’t let it define who you are.

Lastly benefiting from your failures involves realizing that what others think of your failure is irrelevant. This is HUGE! Everyone has an opinion, and most of them don’t matter. Doubt me? Just check out social media for about 10 minutes. When you hand over your much-needed energy to worrying about what other people think about you, it will prevent you from moving forward.

Unless someone is giving you constructive criticism that is going to help you grow, ignore it. Some people give you “advice” with the result of causing you harm, whether it’s intentional or unintentional. Pick and choose who you listen to very carefully.

Overall, the takeaway is that we just need to change our thinking and our definition of failure when it comes to many things in life – including weight loss. If you didn’t reach your weight loss goal this month, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t set yourself up for failure by assuming the worst going forward. It’s just unfinished success – you can benefit from what you’ve learned and get back at it.

Give yourself permission to go forward again by running your own personal race to the best of your ability. If life circumstances happen along your journey, and things get beyond your control, you can always regroup later and get back up again.

True success is not avoiding failure or using it as a reason to give up, but rather learning what to do with it. It is better to attempt things and fail than never attempt anything at all because of the fear of failing.