The key is to keep moving forward.
We’ll give it to you straight: you are going to fail!
Not, like, forever. But you will experience failures. And setbacks. And delays. (Hence the picture of the flat tire.)
Here’s the thing though. These are all meant to be part of life. And they can actually help us. We can learn something new from each setback we go through and then use that to grow into a better person. (Or at least one who now knows how to change a flat tire!)
Here are some tips for dealing with setbacks:
- Focus on improvement, not perfection. None of us will become perfect in this life, but we can always be heading that direction.
- Turn to Jesus Christ. Elder Kim B. Clark taught, “Sometimes we get stuck. We get distracted or discouraged. We stumble. But if we look to Jesus Christ with a repentant heart, He will lift us up, cleanse us from sin, forgive us, and heal our hearts. He is patient and kind; His redeeming love never ends and never fails.”1
- When you try something new, think of it as a trip. There might be some wrong turns and pit stops. But if you just keep moving, you’ll eventually get there!
How can you turn mistakes into learning experiences this week?
“I Learned …”
Think of the last time you failed at something. What did you learn from that experience? How can you use that to improve next time?
Notes
This is part of an ongoing series about emotional resilience, adapted from this manual.
1. From “Look unto Jesus Christ,” general conference, Apr. 2019.