Part 2: When we fail, what next?

Hope you had a great weekend? Over here, we have moved from one season to another. Last week, we talked on failure. This topic struck a nerve with a lot of people and thank you to our community for sharing and promoting this blog. Just last week Monday alone, the traffic on this site increased by 313%!

We can all relate to this common phenomenon. It is okay and permissible to fail, but not to stay at the place of failure and wallow with a belly full of regret. A larger percentage never shake the dust of failure off them. Please, may we all do this assignment this week- find someone who has failed and be an encouragement. Become a reason for someone’s uprising this week. You may ask, “what about me, I failed?!”. Sometimes, the best way to heal is to forget about your problems and reach out to one who has the same need as yours and probably greater. 

There is a scripture in the Bible I love so much and always want to model that kind of life. 

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace God gave the churches in Macedonia. They have been tested by great troubles, and they are very poor. But they gave much because of their great joy.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:1-2‬ 

Truly, I have helped and reached out in my direst of straits to others, and it was so rewarding and fulfilling. It made me forget about what I was going through and also had the inspiration to heal alongside the others who were being helped.

So with that in mind, let us look at what to do when all falls down.

Pick yourself up- I recently saw a tweet and it goes like this, “Emotional pain lasts for 10 to 20 minutes, anything longer is actually self inflicted by overthinking, making things worse.” Do you agree? Personally, I think emotional pain is temporary, but I don’t know its duration. Will like to pick your brain on that! When we fail, we are in an emotional trauma and shock, the pain is temporal but make choices that won’t prolong the pain and make it a permanent fixture in your life. You pick yourself up by encouraging yourself. Sometimes, your most trusted allies might not be in the mood to pick up your call. Well, I know a friend who sticks closer than a brother and his name is Jesus. He is there by your side, at all times- 24/7. I have a very real and personal relationship with Jesus and will invite you to make room in your life for Him. God is needed in tough times like that. There comes a period when life won’t make sense and this is where God comes in. I don’t know about your religious beliefs or inclinations, but this is my reality.

Look at it from another angle- I heard the great John Maxwell quipped, “…when you fail, use the opportunity to count your lessons and not your losses. You miss the bigger picture if you focus on just the loss”. Sometimes failure is good, because it gives you an opportunity to sit down and look at it again, apply critical thinking and try again. I remember our church organized a community outreach event for its residents. No body and I mean none showed up, except our church members. I felt very discouraged and like a failure, but had to put on a brave face and go ahead with the planned programme. After the event was over, I had the chance to sit down and give it another look. I didn’t just count my losses that day, but numerous lessons which are jotted down for the future. Someone once asked me, “how are you able to give good advice and wise counsel?” I told him, “I have failed some and won some, no secrets really!”

It might be time for closure- this can be a tough pill to swallow, but the writing is clear on the wall: you have lost enthusiasm, the perpetual failures, “the square peg in the round hole situation”, you are always gassed out with little or no energy, always in fear and trepidation, too much effort with very little or nothing in return… the list is endless. There comes a time you have to face the reality it is over and have closure. It doesn’t mean you are a failure. The truth is you failed but it is just an event and don’t let that define you. Move on to what is in line with your strengths, talents and passion, then surround yourself with the right company and the requisite knowledge needed. The fact that you closed a venture doesn’t mean your life is over! No experience is a wasted experience. Be very encouraged!

Rise from the ashes of failure, take off the sackcloth of mourning, self pity and complaints. Be the phoenix that rises out of the ashes- impossible situations! I speak to the champion in you! Win! 

Looking forward to reading your comments, which means a lot to me. Thanks again for your support and words of encouragement which has spurred me on to keep writing. Blessings!

Please don’t also forget to like, share and subscribe to this blog.

Till I come your way again…

Peace & Love

NB: send me an email at icharismaticchurch@gmail.com on questions about religion, faith, and any matter for that reason.