How Do You Handle Failure and Disappointments?

"IF AT FIRST YOU DONT SUCCEED, DUST YOURSELF UP AND TRY AGAIN" - Try Again by Aaliyah

Long time no post. Its 2020 yay!!!!
Its the start of a new decade, new disappointments, new failures and new successes.

The last few months of 2019 were tough for me. I had been chasing some things for a couple of months and I didn't get it. As a result I became disappointed. To make matters worse, I had the flu in full force, I suppose my immune system was down because I was emotionally and mentally down.

I am not a stranger to dejection or disappointment. I have had my own share of disappointment and failures. A very big share I must say. I remember a time when all I experienced were disappointments. It felt as if I was cursed and it dealt a very big blow to my confidence. I got apprehensive about taking steps, because I felt it would result in failure. However, I never wore the fear or the disappointment I felt on my face. I still went about my daily activities with a cheerful and beautiful face. In retrospect now, am glad for all the disappointments in the past, because I believe it was all working out for my good and I have learnt that when things don't work out, there's something better in store for me.

I am not one to talk about my disappointments, I rarely shared with close friends the challenges I faced except for family. I do not like a pity party. I like to deal with my challenges myself.
Any way, that was years ago, but here I was again, going through disappointment howbeit a different kind.

Truth is, if i have learnt anything over the years, it is to channel the hurt and disappointment I feel towards my goal. I have learnt to use the setback as fuel to propel me forward. I have learnt to charge myself up by remembering all the challenges I have overcome, constantly keeping my eyes on my goals and aspirations, and getting motivation from other peoples stories.

If I had let the disappointments and failures I experienced consume me, I probably wont be where I am right now. So yes,I was angry and disappointed for a couple of days, but after those days passed, I dusted myself up and moved on. You see I am a mental person, I have a mental picture of what I want and how I want things, and I always work towards that picture.

I'll tell you a true story. Recently, I had to sleep at an International Airport in Europe, just because of a mistake I made. I must confess, it was not the first time I was passing the night at the airport. Me, my husband and my then 10 months old son had spent the night at a Belgian airport, because our flight got in late, no trains were running, all hotels booked and our contact person decided to switch off his phone ( that's story for another day).

Anyhow, this time around, i was sleeping at the airport alone. My family had to leave me behind, it was so emotional, my sons cried and didn't want to go but my husband had to be strong. By the morning of the next day, I was able to make it back home, not after parting with lots of money.

 

a picture of me sleeping on a couch at the virtually empty airport

In retrospect, when i remember that occasion, I pick out the lessons learnt and i laugh. I laugh because its now hilarious to me, i laugh because i think the first experience of sleeping at the airport prepared me for my second experience. I was not fearful , i was just cold 😰.

Fast forward to 2020, the disappointments I faced late last year has turned out for good. That thing I was chasing, I finally got. Yippee!!!

So i want to ask you a question, how do you deal with rejection and set back. I really would like to hear your experiences and how you dealt with it.

One Love
xoxo