How To Overcome Setbacks
Let’s talk the dreaded, the soul-crushing, the deflating, the disappointing… the inevitable, setbacks.
We dedicate ourselves to the steps, we commit ourselves to the process, we challenge ourselves to overcome and setbacks happen anyway. So what’s the point? If we know we will inevitably wind up taking steps backward at some point, why should we continue stepping forward?
To prove to ourselves that we can, and more importantly, THAT WE we will achieve.
I am a huge quote fan. I am sure to always flood my spaces with quotes. Something about having the nod to motivation, even on the days I am not at all interested in it, is freeing. It allows me to subtly and unconsciously manifest the way I want to feel each and every day. In my bedroom currently, I have a jar of quotes I dip my hand into every morning to pull out a little card with a simple sentence typed neatly across it. Ironically enough, the same morning I set out to write this very blog on setbacks, the quote card said, “Every setback is an opportunity to achieve calm and grace.” I smirked to myself, knowing it wasn’t ironic at all, but rather the universe knew I needed to hear it.
Honestly, I hate setbacks. Now I know you probably hate setbacks too, because who would honestly enjoy the feeling of progressing backward? For me, they bring back memories of my notorious days in the gym, training post-spine fracture when I would slowly fight my way back to the skill set I had prior to my injury and just when I thought I was right there, I would re-injure myself. I now realize this was my body telling me it was time to shift gears, but at the time it was disheartening to say the least. It made all my hard work, patience and dedication seem worthless. But was it really worthless?
Of course not! The process of achievement is a funny one. We are conditioned to believe if we are not stepping forward, we are not progressing, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Sometimes this process requires lateral steps, diagonal steps and even, believe it or not, backward steps.
Let me get to the point you’ve been reading for… what exactly is the “art of overcoming setbacks”? Well, here are a few steps, tried and true, I have practiced. And might I add, I have managed to overcome plenty of setbacks - and also self-doubt, others’ doubts and the very odds themselves.
Acknowledge your journey thus far. First thing is first, give yourself some dang credit! You have worked so hard and come so far. Be proud of your accomplishments thus far, no matter how large or small they may seem.
Pick back up the pen. Wait, what the heck am I talking about? You are the author of your own life which means you get to decide what comes next. Challenge yourself to consider, “have you come this far to only come this far?”
Identify your silver lining. Okay sure this may be a bit cliche coming from me, but I mean it. What have you learned from this situation that you wouldn’t have learned if this setback had not happened? I promise you, there is something. And that something may seem really small and insignificant now, but one day you will tap into that nugget of knowledge and be grateful the wisdom was there for the taking.
Enlist your encouragers. One of the most beautiful things about the #TLAGTeam is we don’t have to go it alone. We belong here to empower and inspire one another through connection and understanding.
Press on. Will it be scary? Absolutely. Will it be challenging? You can count on it. Will you confront more obstacles? Undoubtedly. Will it be worth it? You can be sure of it.
#TLAGteam members, Megan Astore & Meghan Lalor, participating in a self-esteem and personal development workshop during our 2020 TLAG Lake Tahoe Retreat. Interested in joining our community and getting involved with like-minded individuals? Check out the details for our 2021 Park City Retreat here!
So what are you waiting for? GO FOR IT! Take the next step - leap into the unknown.
Any step made with intention is a step in the right direction.
There are ups, there are downs, but we would never know the difference if we didn’t experience them both.
-The Silver Lining by Serena Pergola
Until next time...
Xo - Serena