Nelson Mandela once said: “I never lose; I either win or I learn“, such a powerful quote. But the truth is: dealing with failure can be difficult, yet it is an integral part of life. Losing can provide valuable opportunities for learning and growth.

Here are a few strategies that may help you when dealing with failure:

1. Reflect on the situation: Take some time to think about what happened without judging and understand why things didn’t go as planned. Consider what you could have done differently without blaming yourself and what you can learn from the experience.

2. Talk to someone: Sharing your feelings with a trusted friend or family member can be a powerful way to process your emotions and gain perspective on the situation. Sometimes when negative emotions so blind us, it is tough to see things and how they are.

3. Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself; recognize that we all have made mistakes and experienced setbacks at some point. It is natural.

4. Look for the silver lining: Try to find something positive in the situation, such as a new skill you learned or an opportunity to try something different. This could be so valuable.

5. Set new goals: Use the experience as an opportunity to set new goals and initiate working towards them. Use positive affirmations, stories of others’ triumphs over adversity, etc., to fuel your motivation and encourage perseverance in achieving your goals even after a setback or disappointment. This strategy has proven successful with many eminent icons in business and life.

6. Take care of yourself: Make sure you’re taking care of your physical and emotional well-being. This may include getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in activities that bring you joy.

7. Seek support: If you are struggling to cope with failure, don’t hesitate to seek the help of a therapist or counselor. Seeking help is no longer a taboo; we are all work in progress. Only the bravest know when they need support and seek it.

Remember, failure is a normal and inevitable part of life. Adopting a growth mindset and focusing on learning and improvement can turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and success.

By Hanan Nagi, CEO- HNI