The way you perceive failure significantly impacts how you respond when faced with setbacks. In the past, after experiencing failure, I would internalize it, telling myself, “I am a failure” or “I’m not good enough.” These negative thoughts shaped my actions, leading to a cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy—where my belief in failure resulted in repeated shortcomings, further reinforcing my negative mindset.
However, once I changed my perspective on failure, my approach to challenging tasks transformed. I now enter every situation with the mindset that “I will win.” While success is not always immediate, I have come to see failure as an essential step toward success. Whether I fail today or tomorrow, each failure brings me one step closer to achieving my goal.
To put this into perspective, consider elite athletes and innovators. Steph Curry had to miss thousands of three-pointers to become one of the greatest shooters in basketball. Tom Brady overthrew countless passes before becoming an elite quarterback. Thomas Edison endured numerous failed attempts before perfecting the light bulb. Scientific researchers conduct multiple unsuccessful experiments before discovering a breakthrough. In every field, failure is not an endpoint—it is a crucial part of the journey to success.
A useful framework to understand this process is the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Model, which highlights the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Our thoughts influence our emotions, which then shape our behaviors—ultimately reinforcing our beliefs. When I changed my perception of failure, my feelings about it shifted as well. This, in turn, made me less afraid to fail and allowed me to adopt behaviors that led to more success over time.
Ask yourself: How do I view failure? Your answer may determine the trajectory of your success.
Great article. I\’d love it!