Six ways to recover when you fail at something

Six ways to recover when you fail at somethingSix ways to recover when you fail at somethingOnce the dregs of February and March hit, its easy to look back at our starry-eyed New Years selves and laugh. You thought you could lose 30 pounds this year? we might chuckle. Youre dreaming.Whether you wanted to lose weight, stop drinking, run more often, or just commit to taking your wee poodle Murphy on more walks, soon enough resolve hits reality. And sometimes, when the going gets tough, we kiste off the wagon.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreDont despair. A slip-up doesnt mean youre doomed. Stretch your muscles, gather your resolve, and clamber back into the drivers seat. Heres how.Accept ResponsibilityYour sister made your favorite cake. Your co-worker enticed you with a two-for-one happy hour. And its thesnowsfault you didnt run yesterday.Stop blaming others. Succeeding at yourgoa lsmeans accepting responsibility for your failures. Only you can control your actions - not your sister, your co-worker, or the snow. Dont think But if things had been different Achieving goals requires overcoming adversity. The path will never be smooth, but it requires turning down that cake or saying no to that happy hour.Plus, accepting responsibility means accepting celebration, too. When you succeed, itsyouraccomplishment.But Understand Failure is NormalJust because you failed doesnt mean youre a failure. Science agrees everyone screws up.Research says that many people make the same New Years resolution for five years straight before truly changing.Making mistakes means youre human. Pick yourself up and start chugging again toward your goal, just like millions of fellow humans have done before you.Look for Lessons in Your FailureFalling off the wagon is a learning opportunity. Sure, it hurts, and your selbsts bruised. But your journey isnt over - not even close.Failureis a v aluable way to learn lessons about yourself and how you handle adversity. First, examinewhyyou made that fated decision. Did you give up at the first sign of struggle? Perhaps your goals are too lofty (for now). Were you worried about what your co-workers would think if you skipped happy hour? Thats a sign to work on your self-image.Think of yourself like a great athlete. If Babe Ruth stopped slugging the first time he missed the ball, hed never be an idol. Dont give up your goals at the first sign of distress. Instead, learn from your flailing and implement those lessons into your next attempt.Forgive Yourself - Dont Judge YourselfSaid next attempt may seem daunting if youre still beating yourself up over failure number one. So stop.Easier said than done, right? Heres wheremeditationcomes into play. The more time spent paying attention to your thoughts, the better youll be able to ignore the unwanted ones. Practice identifying negative thoughts. Once youve learned to let these sel f-hating feelings float by, youll be ready for attempt number two.RecommitIts okay to spend a day or two down in the dregs. But as soon as possible, sling your fingers through your bootstraps and pull yourself back to standing.Why did you set your goal in the first place? Make a list of all the reasons that spurred such enthusiasm a few months before. Log your new lessons, too. What did you learn about yourself that might be a roadblock? How can you overcome the herausforderung that led to your failure?True, you may not feel the same head-tingling enthusiasm that originally pushed you to tackle the goal. But you have something better drive and enthusiasm.Restart with Slow StepsDive in headfirst if you want - but theres nothing wrong with taking baby steps while you get back on track. If you screwed up your diet, start with drinking water and consuming copious leafy greens. Struggling to completeCouch to 5K? Drop back a couple weeks worth of progress to give yourself a breather and stay on the path.Just like life, goals are a journey. If youre struggling to make big leaps, focus on tinyimprovementsfirst. As long as youre moving toward your destination, youre making progress.This article first appeared on Talkspace.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people