Disappointment has a long half-life. It continues to exist for what seems like eons after the action. That’s the bad news. If you fail to perform to your own expectations, you will be haunted. At least, most of us will be. Those content with mediocrity or failure? Yeah, not so bothered. That’s why they don’t rise above, fight their way back, and succeed. Less than their best effort is okay with them. Wish these folks well, but remember, they are not you. They do not understand.
See, if you’ve got a winner’s heart, a successful soul, a burning desire to be more than you’re really sure you can be — you’re going to have some sleepless nights. You’re going to see the ghosts of your failures. And you will recognize those empty eyes and aching soul of defeat when you see them in others.
So, what to do? Do what you’ve always done. Sit back after the defeat and think. Analyze. Brutally and honestly assess your performance. What went right, what went wrong, what you can learn to do better next time — whether the failure was in your workout, a competition, your job, or your relationship. Whether you failed at a lift or you failed in an argument with your child, you can learn from what happened and do better — be better – next time.
Disappointment can be a fantastic catalyst, if you know how to use it well. Harness that energy. Decide to win, and go do what needs to be done.
(Image courtesy of Nicole Bedard Photography.)
